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Published on March 18, 2008

After two decades of China carefully crafting the image of its peaceful rise, pictures related to the protests in Lhasa, which have turned violent over the past few days, have filtered out. They show cars overturned and burning, Tibetans hurling rocks at security officials and shops on fire. Martial law has been imposed and foreigners are urged not to go to the "roof of the world". The riots, which are unprecedented in contemporary Chinese history, have shattered the claims made constantly by Beijing that Tibetans have been satisfied with their lives since China moved in. Like it or not, China cannot ignore the Tibetan issue.

Beijing was surprised by the unrest, which came just a few days after the end of the ChinesePeople's Political Consultative Conference. Reaction from Chinese news sources such as the Xinhua news agency and others was fierce. They called the protests "organised, premeditated, and masterminded" by the "Dalai clique", referring to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans living in exile. Western news agencies on the other hand quoted the Dalai Lama who described the demonstration as a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present government.

 The demonstrations, which started in Lhasa, took place early in the week to commemorate the anniversary of a 1959 uprising against China. At first only the monks took to the streets before being joined by hundreds of ordinary people.

Outside Tibet, the march to commemorate the invasion of Tibet also happened in Dharamsala, the home of Tibetan exiles in India. Officials there also cracked down on demonstrations and have jailed some protesters. India, as the world's largest democracy, is caught in a dilemma due to the recent rapid improvement of India-China relations. For the past five decades, Delhi has been generous to Tibetan exiles. But such a heavy-handed approach does not augur well with the Indian democratic tradition and tolerance. There have been strong criticism of India in the local press.

Tibet will remain a thorn in China's side with or without the Olympic Games. With less than five months to go until the games begin, it would be advisable for China to deal with this critical issue to prevent various advocacy groups from raising their concerns. Dialogue between China and Tibetans in exile must continue and accelerate. Further confidence-building measures need to be worked out. Certainly, the Tibet issue is complicated and it will take times to find an acceptable solution. The international community is also watching closely and will use this as a benchmark for judging China.

As China rises, the international community expects Chinese leaders to act in certain ways that are commensurate with its powers, both in terms of politics and economics. There is also the increasing realisation and acceptance that China must not avoid sensitive issues especially those dealing with sovereignty at the highest level in Chinese decision-making bodies. To its credit, Beijing has been active in the past in helping the United Nations and the international community maintain peace and stability throughout the world.

China's role in the six-party talks, which has been noted internationally as one of the hallmarks of China's new foreign policy, has boosted its image in global politics. Further action by China in Sudan over the Darfur crisis also helped bring further engagement from the UN and humanitarian organisations. Foreign-policy analysts understand that when Beijing is really interested in a particular issue, there will be a solution. Concerned countries must also convince China that the Tibetan issue can be resolved. It is not a zero-sum game after all. In the globalised world, there is no single issue that stands alone. It is all interconnected in one way or another. Transnational issues have dominated the global agenda and require cooperation from all countries.

In the coming weeks and months, developments inside and outside China will impact on the Olympics. It is imperative that Chinese leaders understand them in rational ways. Any unnecessary or harsh measures would certainly draw condemnation. China has reached the zenith of international politics; it has to become a responsible international stakeholder.

The Nation