Publication

This paper analyzes the dialogue process in the Sino-Tibetan dispute. It examines the relationship between Beijing and the Dalai Lama from their initial engagement in the early post-Mao years through the protracted stalemate of the 1990s until the current phase of direct contacts. The study surveys major factors that are likely to impact future dynamics of engagement. According to the author, pressure on China to renew contact with the Dalai Lama comes not only from international sources but also from domestic critics. The study concludes that even if developments such as China’s changing global position have implications for the dialogue process, the prospects for a negotiated solution are still limited.