The Tibet issue in post-summit Sino-American relations

Driven by Americans' cultural and religious interest in Tibet, the dispute between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama's "government in exile" in India has recently become one of the most important in U.S.-China relations. Its ethnic, sovereignty and religious dimensions make the Tibet Question particularly intractable. Internal political pressures have made the Dalai Lama unwilling to abandon the goal of independence and the PRC leaders unwilling to grant concessions to the Tibetan exiles. An effective Tibet Lobby has produced a skewed view of the Tibet Question among U.S. leaders. There are recent indications, however, that the PRC practice of rejecting foreign participation in the effort to bring about negotiations on Tibet may be moderating. At the same time, the U.S, administration has begun to move toward a more balanced approach that may allow it to play a useful role in resolving the Tibet dispute