The Dalai Lama holds no power in his hands that can match that of the Chinese government, so why does he make such illogical demands? I think it’s because he thinks that there are countries in the world that support him. I hope that Western countries feel pity for this 77-year-old man and encourage him to abandon his impossible illusions and honestly discuss his personal future with the Chinese government. This is something meaningful that he should do. If such countries continue to encourage the grotesque and irrelevant illusions of the pitiful old Dalai Lama, the only result will be that he harms himself.

Question: Many people have a negative opinion of Catherine Ashton. What is your appraisal of the European Union’s leaders? For example, in what ways do you think the “Tibet question” and the “Taiwan question” are the same or different?

Zhu Weiqun: As for the appraisal of the leaders of the European Union, this is not a matter I concern myself with. That is a matter for the countries in the European Union and their citizens. If you want to compare Taiwan and Tibet, they have one thing in common – they are both inseparable parts of Chinese territory. The biggest difference is that Taiwan has not yet been united with the motherland on the mainland, and our policy is to use the method of “one country, two systems” to solve question and complete the great cause of uniting the Chinese nation. There has never been a question of reuniting Tibet with the rest of China. Tibet is an ethnic region or an autonomous area that is ruled by the Chinese central government, and the central government administers it the same way that it administers other provinces and autonomous regions, except that because Tibet’s economic development lags so far behind, the central government gives it more support and help. Therefore, there just isn’t any “Tibet question.” Tibet has been practicing the socialist system for more than half a century, and the next task is to further develop the outstanding features of that system to bring more benefits to the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet so they can lead better lives.

Question: You are well known in China, but do you think that when Tibetan people hear your name, it makes them happy or fearful?

Zhu Weiqun: I’m not all that well known in China. There are many cadres more capable than me. I’m on the periphery of power. That’s why I was assigned to deal the Dalai Lama problem. I have very many friends in Tibet ranging from high officials to ordinary farmers and herdsmen and old men and women. I do not doubt in the least that the Tibetan people are satisfied with my work, and wherever I go I am warmly welcomed by cadres and ordinary people of all ethnic groups. I also do not doubt that there are other people, especially members of the Dalai Lama clique abroad, who have a visceral hatred of me. But in my mind to be hated by forces that want to split our country and undermine the stability of Tibet is a badge of honor, and perhaps the greatest accomplishment of my life. If I was liked by the Dalai Lama and his underlings, including those who incited the self-immolations, that would show that everything I’ve done is wrong.

Question: I am a Chinese who has lived in Europe for more than ten years, and I have learned a lot from your remarks and I thank you very much. I feel that the image of the CPC in the minds of most Europeans is not very correct due to the influence of the Cold War. They invariably have a negative judgment of the Communist Party and Communism. In addition Tibetan exiles have worked hard to win their sympathy. So, it is a very difficult to get them to listen to what China has to say. A few minutes ago a reporter asked if it would be possible to send an independent investigative team to Tibet. This is a common viewpoint Europeans have; they harbor doubts about any leaders the CPC sends abroad. So I think that when our state leaders go abroad, they should bring a number of Tibetans with them. Perhaps Europeans will believe and understand what they say is happening in Tibet more easily.