Marking the 60th anniversary of "peaceful liberation" of Tibet, China today vowed to fight against "separatist" activities of the Dalai Lama and crush any attempt to undermine stability in the region.
Marking the 60th anniversary of "peaceful liberation" of Tibet, China today vowed to fight against "separatist" activities of the Dalai Lama and crush any attempt to undermine stability in the region.
"We should fight against separatist activities by the Dalai group, rely on cadres and people of all ethnic groups, seek long-term policies and take measures that address the root cause, and completely destroy any attempt to undermine stability in Tibet and national unity of the motherland,", Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping said.
Social stability provides the very basis for leapfrog development and a prosperous life for people of all ethnic groups in Tibet, Xi, who is widely expected to succeed President Hu Jintao next year, said addressing a rally in Lhasa celebrating the 60th anniversary since China consolidated its authority over the remote Himalayan region.
The rally, which included a military parade and cultural presentations, was held at the square opposite the famous Potala Palace in the Tibetan provincial capital Lhasa, which was the official residence of the Dalai Lama before he fled to India in 1959.
Xi said people of all ethnic groups in Tibet have stood firm in the fight against separatism.
"They have forestalled separatist and sabotage activities staged by the Dalai group and foreign hostile forces, and firmly safeguarded ethnic unity, social stability and national unification," he said.
"Social stability provides the very basis for leapfrog development and a prosperous life for people of all ethnic groups in Tibet," he said.
"We should stick to the idea that 'Han' (the mainland Chinese ethnic group which has over 95 per cent majority) and ethnic minorities cannot live without each other, and different ethnic minorities are inter-dependent on each other," Xi said.
"As long as we stick to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the socialist system, the system of regional ethnic autonomy and the development path with Chinese and local Tibetan features, Tibet will enjoy greater prosperity and progress and embrace a brighter future."
A white paper published on the occasion claimed that historical evidence showed that Tibet had all along been part of China and Tibetan people had been "closely connected with the Han and other ethnic groups in blood relationship, language, culture and other aspects."
The celebrations were being held in the immediate backdrop of China strongly objecting to the last Saturday's meeting between US President Barrack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House in Washington.
Many Chinese analysts here claimed that the Obama-Dalai meeting was deliberately timed to coincide with China's plans to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the "peaceful liberation" of Tibet by its troops.
Chinese officials in the last few years held several rounds of talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives but the negotiations made no headway even after the Tibetan spiritual leader announced that Tibet was part of China but wanted broader autonomy package for the province.
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