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Harnessing the Dragon`S Fume

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Harnessing the Dragon`S Fume HARNESSING THE DRAGON`S FUME (Challenging the Chinese Communist Party`s distorted Tibet narratives) Tsewang Gyalpo Arya DIIR PUBLICATIONS Published by: Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Gangchen Kyishong Dharamsala - 176215 H.P. INDIA Email: [email protected] Website: www.tibet.net Cover illustration: Yuki Goto First edition: April 2021 (1000 copies) © tgarya ISBN 978-93-85578-23-6 Printed at: Narthang Press, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala - 176215 (H.P.) FOREWORD Since the coming of Xi Jinping at the helm of Chinese communist party, China adopted an offensive stance on various fronts to assert its claim on Tibet and has through its mouthpiece like, the Global Times, Xinhua News and CGTN barraged its propaganda to the outside world. It has consistently tried to justify its occupation of Tibet by harping on the development it has made and the increased GDP growth in the region. While China claims great development, human rights and prosperity in Tibet, it has barred the U.N. rapporteurs, diplomats and media from visiting Tibet. It has, however, from time to time invited limited foreign journalists on a state sponsored tour in Tibet with a clear message to parrot the communist party`s propaganda. Through these foreign media, China has tried to distort the historical facts and assert its ownership over Tibet since ancient times. In a gross violation of religious freedom, Chinese communist party, who does not believe in religion, has taken over the management of Tibetan monasteries. The CCP leadership is now openly interfering in the selection of high Tibetan Lamas and has come out boldly to exert its authority in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, the then Information Secretary and Tibet News Bureau Chief of DIIR, has effectively issued timely rebuttals to these Chinese media onslaughts. He has further challenged the Chinese propaganda through personal op-eds and writings in various media outlets. We are pleased to publish the collection of these op-eds and writings in a book form titled “Harnessing the Dragon’s Fume”. The writings contain important information and facts to counter the Chinese assertions and the CCP`s inimical conspiracy to distort historical facts. While we congratulate the author on his writings, the views expressed are author’s own. We hope the book will serve as an additional resource for all to challenge and refute the increased Chinese ignominious and distorted claims. Dr. Lobsang Sangay President (Sikyong), Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala, INDIA 10th March 2021 Contents Tibet, Tibetan refugees and the way ahead ......................... 1 China has no historical, religious and political rights to interfere in Dalai Lamas’ reincarnation issues..................... 14 China was only a part of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty; it was neither the authority nor the inheritor of the dynasty ........ 24 The 17-point Agreement: What China promised; what it really delivered and the future? ........................................... 33 Tibet has never been an internal affair of China ................ 48 A real Tibet behind the safest Chinese city Lhasa, a rebuttal ........................................................................... 55 Tibet has never been a part of China anywhere in its pre- 1949 history ......................................................................... 60 Chinese communist leadership should stop its tirade against His Holiness the Dalai Lama ............................................... 65 Why Chinese leadership is avoiding talks with the Tibetan representatives.................................................................. 70 China’s white paper on defense: a sugar coated sabre......... 75 China’s white paper on human rights a blatant farce .......... 80 Chinese ambassador’s statement on Tibet misleading and not true ...................................................................... 85 China buying Indian media for propaganda gimmick ......... 90 Serfs emancipation day, a Chinese drama to mislead the international community ...................................................... 95 Coronavirus pandemic: a Chinese Trojan horse to global hegemony ......................................................................... 99 China’s Global Times article false, incorrect and misleading-a rebuttal ........................................................... 107 Phunchok Stobdan’s televised attack is misleading, divisive and dangerous................................................................... 111 China’s ostentatious seminar on Tibet, an attempt to save its face at UNHRC ............................................................ 118 Xi Jinping’s speech at Tibet Forum betrays CCP’s policy failure ............................................................................... 124 A brief introduction to Losar, Tibetan New Year ............. 130 A Short note on Lungta, a Tibetan prayer flag and its origin ............................................................................ 138 Chotrul-duschen: The Great Prayer Festival of Tibet ........ 147 ~1~ Tibet, Tibetan refugees and the way ahead A group of early Tibetan refugees in Northern India, 1960s (Photo courtesy: the Tibet Museum/DIIR.) June 20 is World Refugee Day. The United Nations designated this day to remember the refugees around the world and to remind ourselves of how we all could work together to restore the rights and dignity of the refugees. Most of the refugees are the victims of dictatorial or tyrannical regimes. Replacing these regimes with more democratic and responsible governments is the panacea to all the ills and sufferings associated with the refugee problems. Tibet, too is a victim of a tyrannical Communist regime. Tibetans in and outside Tibet have suffered and are still suffering under the Chinese communist regime for the last seventy years. 1 On this World Refugee Day, let me briefly share the Tibetan refugees` story, how Tibetans lost their country and became refugees, their struggle, hope, and future aspirations. Introduction Tibet has been a peaceful and independent country since ancient times. It is situated on the highest plateaus of the world, the Pamir and Tibetan plateaus. Therefore, it is also known as the roof of the world and the source of major rivers of Southeast Asian countries. Geographically, it lies north of India and Nepal, West of China, and south of Mongolia. Nepal and Tibet share Mount Everest, one side of the mountain is in Nepal, and the other side is in Tibet. According to the ancient Indian sacred books Rigveda and Atharvaveda, Tibet is Trivistapa, the heavenly abode, with Mount Kailash as the center or navel of the earth. After the Communists took over China in 1949 as part of their expansionist policy, this peaceful and holy nation was attacked and invaded in 1950. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal head of Tibet, escaped and sought asylum in India. Some 80,000 Tibetans followed him into exile thereafter. History India, Nepal, and Tibet share many historical, cultural, and religious values. Tibet during the 7th to the 9th century has been one of the most powerful military empires in Asia. Tibetan emperors like Srongtsan Gampo (569-650 AD), Khrisong Deutsan (742-798 AD) and Khri-ralpachen (802- 2 841 AD) conquered the territories of the neighboring Central Asia, Nepal, India, and China. Around that time, Buddhism from India also entered Tibet. The Tibetan emperor, Khrisrong Deutsan, invited Indian Buddhist masters such as Shantarakshita and Guru Padmasambhava to Tibet and made Buddhism a state religion. Since the adoption and propagation of Buddhism in Tibet, the war-like nature of Tibetan people got pacified, and more and more attention was paid to spiritual development and promotion of peace and harmony, both in the land and around the neighboring countries. Tibet’s military strength dwindled, and spiritual pursuit gained momentum. The number of armies decreased, and the number of monks and nuns increased exponentially. When the modern world was busy exploring physical matters and industrial revolutions, Tibetans were busy exploring deeper into the mind and seeking a spiritual revolution. Many Indian scholars visited Tibet to teach, and many Tibetan scholars visited India to study Buddhism. Military campaigns and territorial aggression stopped, Tibet became peaceful, and the neighboring countries began to look to Tibet for spiritual guidance and enlightenment. Rule by the priests (Lama) Buddhism and Tibetan Lamas played an important role in maintaining peace and stability in Central Asia. The belligerent descendants of Genghis Khan of Mongolia, who conquered half of Europe and most of Asia, ultimately got pacified by the teaching of the Tibetan Sakya Lamas, who convinced the 3 Mongol Kings that the victory over one’s ignorant mind is far more virtuous than victory over physical enemy through killings and lootings. It was the Tibetan Lamas who kept the warring factions of Mongol, Tibet, Nepal, China and Manchuria in peace and friendly accord. The Mongolian Yuan Empire, Chinese Ming and Manchu Qing empires, all were greatly benefited by spiritual discourses and guidance offered by the Tibetan Lamas. The most notable and respected Lama was the Dalai Lama. He was greatly revered by the Tibetans and by the kings and subjects of the neighboring countries. The first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa, was born in 1391 AD. Dalai in the Mongolian language means “ocean.” meaning a Lama
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