Question No. 14  

Page: 47-48

Senator Ludlam

A. Was advice sought from DFAT on the advisability of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama later this year?

B. Do the Chinese object in those dialogues to the stance taken by Australia on what they term the ‘territorial integrity of China'? Are we asked to back off on issues such as autonomy for Tibet?

Answer

A. DFAT provided advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the Dalai Lama's visit to Australia.

B. China's view, as put to Australia, is that both countries should respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns so as to safeguard the overall interests of bilateral cooperation. The Tibet issue is one such concern for China. The position of successive Australian governments since 1972 has been to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including over Tibet.