Will the Chinese government change its policies on its Tibet work or its attitude toward the struggle with the Dalai Lama clique because of a number of self-immolation incidents? I suggest that everyone takes a look back at history. In 1951, Tibetan upper-class reactionaries tried to block the liberation of Tibet and even dared to fight the PLA at Changdu. Even though they were defeated, in 1959 the Dalai Lama was still capable of launching an all-out armed rebellion in Tibet. In the 1960s, he was incapable of fighting us openly and directly, but he was able to harass our borders from outside the country. Eventually he couldn’t even mount such attacks, and his military base in Nepal was wiped out. In the 1980s, he still had the capability to initiate a series of riots in Lhasa, which occurred intermittently for three years. In 2008, he risked everything to launch an outburst of arson and vandalism that became known as the March 14 Incident, but we quickly restored order. Now these people are capable only of hoodwinking a few ignorant youths to immolate themselves in order to put pressure on our government. There is a popular saying in China, “A weasel’s offspring are rats; that is to say each successive generation is weaker than the one that precedes it.” Whenever any political clique sinks to the depths of deceiving its own followers in order to maintain its viability, it must be on its last legs. In this kind of situation, some people working in the European Union still tie their destiny to that of the Dalai Lama, and this is very unwise. The Dalai Lama’s inner circle has already become divided on whether to continue to dupe people into immolating themselves. Some people think this game has already been played out. I can very frankly say to all of you friends here that even if such incidents occur, again the Chinese government’s program and policy for Tibet work and its attitude in the struggle against the Dalai Lama clique will not change in the least.

Just now, you mentioned that some members of the European Parliament invited the new head of the “government-in-exile” to visit. I am fully aware of the internal organization of the European Union, and I also know that the attitude of a minority of the members of the parliament does not represent the European Union. However, as an international organization, at a time when you’re discussing democracy, shouldn’t you discuss moral principles with your members and constrain actions that harm the interests of other countries and the interests of the European Union itself? And if you can’t constrain them, shouldn’t you at least criticize them? If this kind of situation continues in which barbarous actions that are contrary to the interests of the Chinese people are met with sympathy and the people who take these actions are provided a platform to promote their actions, it will be detrimental to the reputation of the European Union. The reasons you give I have heard too many times. Every time someone does something detrimental to China’s interests, people say it was the parliament that was responsible, it was a social organization that was responsible, or it was some individual that was responsible, all of which makes it seem like the government doesn’t really govern. The Chinese government is constantly condemned for not emphasizing democracy and human rights, but we understand a basic principle of conduct: No one is permitted to damage the interests of a country friendly to China on Chinese soil, and no one is permitted at any time to gratuitously censure another person out of ignorance. This is an attitude that any responsible government should take.

Question: It is my impression that the purpose of your visit is to frankly and sincerely discuss the Tibet question. If that is so, would it be possible for the Chinese side to permit the European Union to send an investigative team of independent foreign service officials to Tibet to investigate the situation? Wouldn’t that be in accord with what you have said?

Zhu Weiqun: This is a very serious question. China is an independent country that values its national dignity and is capable of safeguarding its sovereignty and interests. We absolutely will not allow any foreign power to meddle in China’s internal affairs in any way. Frankly, I don’t believe that any country can go into another country and take control of their internal affairs, and by so doing solve any problem or benefit the people in any way. On the contrary, they invariably make matters worse, sometimes even to the point of war. China will never meddle in other countries internal affairs or demand that they must do this or that, and we cannot allow other countries to meddle in our internal affairs. Who gives you the right? You can criticize us or give us suggestions, but we will never give any foreign organization or government the right to handle our country’s internal affairs.