Recently the Dalai Lama has said that he feels there have been encouraging signs about China changing its attitude towards Tibet. However, Xu Zhitao, an official with the United Front Work Department of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee, has said there could not be any breakthrough in talks with the Dalai Lama unless he changes his positions on some important issues. KJM Varma has reported for the Tibet Sun: "No breakthrough in talks until Dalai Lama changes stand: China."
Xu has played down expectations of any new approach in dealing with Tibet. He has said there would not be any negotiations at least until the end of the year, in response to reports on the Dalai Lama's comments that there were encouraging signs about a shifting of attitudes of China towards Tibet, as the CPC gears up to elect a new leadership.
Xu was apparently indicating that the talks were possible, but only after the new leadership of the CPC assumes office. Xu has been quoted as saying “China will continue to be flexible with the Dalai Lama but it seems that no result will come out if he does not change his attitude toward some fundamental issues.†The central government of China insists that neither the Dalai Lama or his Tibetan government-in-exile can represent the Tibetan people.
Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama insists he has not been seeking a split from China for Tibet, but instead wants genuine autonomy for Tibet. Xu's response has been “The so-called autonomy of Tibet the Dalai Lama claims to be seeking is actually the independence of Tibet, which is definitely forbidden." And so tensions persist between the Tibetans and the Chinese government at this time.
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