http://www.wou.edu/ Burke De Boer January 25, 2017
With last week’s inauguration of a new president came an immediate question on everyone’s mind: what about Tibet?
Well, maybe not so much. President Donald Trump came to power basing his campaign on economic issues. When he did address foreign policy it usually came from an economic bent: notably his promise to renegotiate Chinese trade deals.
Unfortunately, it’s been some time since Tibet’s occupation has been a heavily discussed issue in America. But the international community has been reacting to a fresh and recent attack on Tibetan culture from the Chinese government.
Larung Gar is the largest Tibetan Buddhist academy in the world and last summer China set upon it, demolishing buildings and physically removing nuns and monks that live there. 4,500 people have already been removed as the Chinese government approaches its population target of 5,000. This time last year, over 10,000 people resided in Larung Gar.
I am reminded of last year’s calamity at Standing Rock, which saw an outpouring of support from our community. Enough to move the planned pipeline.
However America has been unable to pressure China to relax on Tibet. This has been the case ever since China soured on Soviet relations.
America has had a strange relationship with Beijing ever since former President Jimmy Carter abandoned Taiwan to exclusively recognize the People’s Republic as the Chinese government.
Trump took on the Obama Administration’s handling of China throughout his campaign. His promises of aggressive trade and renegotiations with China did excite some Tibetans. Prime Minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, expressed optimism in an interview with Reuters, calling Trump’s view of China a “realistic” one.
When, as president-elect, Trump accepted a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, it became the first time that the two nations’ leaders had spoken since 1979. Some were worried that this would anger Beijing. What they fail to see is how abandoning a one-China policy would give the American government better leverage to pressure the People’s Republic on Tibetan oppression.
But if Trump is realistic on China, we should also be realistic on Trump. He could potentially be the best ever president for Tibet, but this is the man who wrote “The Art of the Deal.”
It’s impossible to rule out the idea of Tibet and Taiwan being used as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. In fact it seems more likely from a president who campaigned based on economic issues more so than foreign policy.
Which is why activist organization in the Tibetan cause is so important. We saw the power of activism to stop government powers at Standing Rock. But international activism is severely and consistently undermined by trade relations.
If the new president follows through in establishing a tough stance on China it will only strengthen the movement for Tibet.
There is reason to be optimistic, and reason to think the actions at Larung Gar can be stopped. It’s not that Trump will be a pro-Tibet president; a firmer stance on the People’s Republic from the United States will only provide solid footing for pressure from outside of the new administration.
Organized activist movements like Students For a Free Tibet and the NGO Free Tibet lead the way for international pressure on China and they will continue to do so. In the coming years I see their position only becoming stronger.
