Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years, but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama. He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now. So, China's central government is not going to discuss with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, but only the future and destiny of Dalai Lama himself.

The 14th Dalai Lama is running out of opportunities. And that's why he is using the Beijing Olympics as his last straw. But could he really make the best use of this opportunity? Some Westerners are providing Dalai Lama with badly-needed guidance and support, which shed light on why he frequented Western countries in a rush. However, there are vast differences in the interest of those Westerners' and Dalai's, which can be seen through the fact that Dalai has been given a cold shoulder by the West from time to time in the past decades.

Therefore Dalai should tell the difference in interests and stop binding himself to certain political forces, which will lead to his loss of opportunities. Judging from the current situation, Dalai Lama is losing his most important opportunities on mending ties with the Chinese central government.

Of course, it remained to be seen whether Dalai Lama still has any power and influence to muster, without the support of some political forces in the West.

To most people, no matter in the old Tibet or in Dharmsala today, where Tibetan government-in-exile locates, Dalai Lama is both a political and a religious figure. Although Dalai himself frequently refers to the "government-in-exile" as a "democratic government", he has never denied he is the political leader. But it does not make any sense at all to compare theocracy to a democratic system. If it did, people would assume he either lacks or ignore common sense.

Theocracy was abolished in Tibet. This is the reason why Dalai left Lhasa in 1959, and it is also the result of his absence.

Tibet is an autonomous region, so the Tibetan autonomous government is the only legal government to represent Tibet, not that government-in-exile.

Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future. Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds, and China will never consent to negotiate with him when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile". I am not sure whether Dalai is clear about this or not.

By Jin Canrong

Following the March 14 riots in Lhasa, the central government held a meeting with the Dalai Lama's representatives on his request on May 4. Some officials of central government departments will meet the personal representatives of the Dalai Lama again early this month. The central authorities have maintained a constant and clear policy towards the Dalai Lama.

It is hoped that the Dalai side cherish this opportunity, see the situation clearly, and take concrete measures to build the foundation for future dialogue.

The Dalai Lama appears to be more interested in fanning up international pressure on China than in talking seriously with the central government of China. The Olympics has been used by some Westerners as a means to "liberate Tibet from China" through intense media propaganda.

Since 2002, six rounds of discussion have taken place between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the central government.

But the Dalai Lama's concept of "high-level" or "maximum" autonomy cannot possibly be accommodated within the Chinese Constitution.