Tibet at a Turning Point: The Spring Uprising and China's New Crackdown

Since March 10, a tidal wave of mainly peaceful protests against the Chinese government has swept across Tibet. Tibetans have risked their lives to demonstrate that their exiled leader the Dalai Lama represents their interests, and not the Chinese state. This uprising is a result of more than half a century of Communist Party misrule and reveals the breakdown of Beijing's Tibet policy at a time when China seeks to convey an image of harmony in the buildup to the Olympics. President Hu, whose rise to power is linked to his role as former Party boss in Tibet, was involved in drafting the hardline policies that led to Tibet's spring uprising. In order to resolve the deepening crisis now, President Hu must be urged to engage directly with the Dalai Lama - recognized by the world as the pre-eminent representative of the Tibetan people - on Tibet's future.