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Tibet's `soft power' policy works

Lourdes Argaelles

Article Created:  04/23/2008 04:42:59 PM PDT

In spite of the long and ruthless Chinese occupation of his country, the Dalai Lama, a 1989 Nobel Peace Laureate, supports the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and has stated that he is always ready to dialogue with Chinese officials about anything that would contribute to the mutual well-being of Tibet and China. When he was asked about attempts to curtail the protests along the route of the Olympic torch relay and the savage responses of the Chinese to recent demonstrations in Tibet, the Dalai Lama insisted that no one has the right to tell protesters to "shut up."

It is this kind of firm yet skillful, and compassionate stance that has given the Dalai Lama and his people a very effective kind of "soft power." Though the Tibetans lack military and economic resources and their remote and nonmodern land has been for more than a half century in the ruthless grip of Chinese invaders, they continue to be able to motivate countless governments and individuals to support their cause.

I invited Tibetan refugee activists to speak at one of my doctoral seminars for educators on April 19. One speaker was Pema Chinnjor Khangtetsang, a former Tibetan freedom fighter who has served in the Tibetan government-in-exile. Mr. Chinnjor clarified how Tibet had always been independent and autonomous until Mao came to power in China in the late 1940s and instituted a brutal program of military occupation and exploitation of Tibetan natural resources which continues to date. In the process, Tibetan culture and religion has been brought to the verge of extinction and more than a million Tibetans have been imprisoned, tortured, or murdered.

Another speaker was Tenzing Chonden, the North American representative to the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. He emphasized how most Tibetans, including himself, have forgiven the Chinese for the suffering they have brought upon Tibet. He clarified that forgiveness, however, did not mean that Tibetans were willing to rewrite their history and say that their country has historically belonged to China as the Chinese government constantly proclaims. Mr. Chonden acknowledged that the majority of his people are willing to forgo total independence in order to peacefully secure an autonomous status for their country. This status would allow Tibetans to preserve their traditional culture and practice their religion and manage their own internal affairs without fear of reprisals.

China would control their external affairs. "It is a concession to the Chinese so that we can move forward without violence," he said, "and resolve this terrible situation. If that cannot happen," he stated, Tibet will be plunged into even more chaos and impact the stability of Asia.

Our last speaker was Tseten Phanucharas from the Los Angeles Friends of Tibet. She detailed the activities that her organization was carrying on, with little or no financial resources, to bring attention to the Tibetan holocaust. After she was finished speaking, students suggested boycotting Chinese products to force China to loosen its grip on Tibet. Ms. Phanucharas pointed out, however, that consumer boycotts are frequently ineffective because product parts are often made and assembled in many different countries. The Tibetans are also the concerned that boycotts of Chinese goods could cause harm to Chinese farmers and workers.

As the Tibetans spoke I was reminded that their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, believes that we must treat our oppressors with compassion. In our guests, I saw the embodiment of his dictum: two men and a woman who are nonviolent activists forever caring that their actions not be harmful to those who have brought so much harm to them. When our speakers left a student whispered to me, "I am so amazed by their commitment to peace that I feel energized and want to help them as much as I can." I then thought to myself that at least for now, the soft power of the Tibetans continues to work its magic.

Lourdes Argaelles, Ph.D., is a professor at the School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University.