The Strategic Importance of Tibet March 26, 2009

Hosted by: American Enterprise Institute

In March 2008, Tibetan monks marched peacefully to commemorate the forty-ninth anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule. When Chinese security forces began arresting monks, these marches turned into vocal protests and riots in which a number of Tibetans and Han Chinese were killed. The Chinese authorities responded harshly, killing more than two hundred Tibetans and detaining thousands more, according to the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government-in-exile. Nearly one year later, Tibet, now largely closed off from the outside world, remains under a tight security lockdown. As Tibetans now commemorate not only last year's events, but also the fiftieth anniversary of the Dalai Lama's departure from Tibet, it is important to consider the region's future. Human rights abuses and the question of Tibet's political status remain important issues for Tibetans themselves, but also have implications for China's external relations. In particular, Tibet remains a potential flashpoint in China's relationship with India, home to the Central Tibetan Administration.

Will China maintain the status quo for the foreseeable future? Will the resumption of negotiations between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama's representatives eventually lead to greater autonomy for Tibet? What is the strategic importance of Tibet, especially to India and the United States? Addressing these and other questions will be Lodi Gyari, the Dalai Lama's chief negotiator; Michael J. Green, a former director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council; and Daniel Twining, a former foreign policy adviser to Senator John McCain who served recently on the State Department's policy planning staff with responsibility for South Asia and regional issues in East Asia.

Official Website: http://www.aei.org/events/type.upcoming,eventID.1901,filter.all/event_detail.asp