Scholars, activists and policy experts from around the globe came together to defend the the Middle Way Approach of the Central Tibetan Administration during the the seventh annual International Conference on Tibet.
“The exile Tibetan community is like a flowing river,” said City University of New York Professor Ming Xia “Although they have left the mountains of Tibet, they have still remained connected to their homeland like a snow and continue to provide feedback to Tibet. What I am trying to say is the Tibetan tradition and heritage is like a great mountain and through evolution and adaptation to the new environment, the Tibetan community in exile, like a dynamic and creative river, has remained connected with the mountains.”
“If we look at the Middle-Way Approach, if we look at how we are here today with the people of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang, we have to ask one fundamental question whether we are going to be a mountain and be separated, or we are going to be like a river, where we are converging and going to create a strong new future, not only for the Chinese, but also for Tibetans and Uyghurs as well as the people of Taiwan and Hong Kong.”
Dhardon Sharling, the Information Secretary (equivalent) of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration, told the audience that the peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue will elevate China’s standing due to Tibet’s values of non-violence and mutual respect.
“Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Middle Way Approach demonstrates these Tibetan values in application,” he said. “The Tibetan approach to its freedom struggle can be a powerful inspiration and example to others around the globe as an alternative to the cruelty of war, violence, and terrorism if the international community supports those efforts and Tibetans achieve their freedom and the return of His Holiness to Tibet.”
Edward Chin, the convener of Hong Kong 2047 Monitor, said: “It has already been close to sixty years since His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been in exile. The whole world is watching as China is getting more and more powerful. We wish that China would respect human rights and have dialogue with His Holiness and in doing so, China is inviting bigger challenges in the near future.”
