China now appears to be bending the Tibet issue after weeks of tough talks, violence and international protest.
Of course, that’s still an interpretation based on this “read between the lines” public pronouncement:
“In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai’s private representative in the coming days,” said an unidentified Chinese official, according to Xinhua, the official news agency, as reported by the New York Times.
How’s that for journalistic sourcing? An unknown source talking to the official news agency of China, speaking through the de facto news agency of America.
Not exactly truth you can cash at the bank.
Still, it’s an “official” signal to the free world that there is now a real chance for some positive movement on the Tibet issue.
This new announcement may all be just part of the gamesmanship of quiet, behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
But we wouldn’t have come this far unless voices in San Francisco and around the world didn’t speak out in outrage, horrified by the recent violence in Tibet, and China’s continuing policy of repression.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/world/asia/26china.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print