Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1993

Vol. 436 No. 5

Written Answers. - Chinese Policy on Tibet.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

108 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the document China's Public Relations Strategy on Tibet which maps a strategy threatening the survival of Tibetan identity, culture and existence as a distinct people has been brought to his attention; and whether, in view of this and the continued and massive transfer of Chinese population into Tibet, he will exert pressure directly and through the European Union on the Chinese Government to prevent its destructive and brutal actions in Tibet.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The document to which the Deputy refers was recently received in my Department where it has been closely studied.

A central concern of the Government's policy on Tibet remains the respect and protection of the human rights of the Tibetans. Ireland's concerns, and those of our partners in the European Union, have been and will continue to be brought to the attention of the Chinese authorities. More recently, on 29 October the European Union Troika in Beijing raised the issue of human rights in Tibet with the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister.

The Deputy will be aware that our Ambassador in Beijing visited Tibet in May as part of a delegation of European Community ambassadors which raised with the Chinese authorities questions concerning human rights abuses and matters relating to the preservation of the identity of the Tibetan people.