In what may turn out to be an historic turning point the Dalai Lama visited Taiwan in March for a six day tour. Though billed as a visit by a spiritual leader it inevitably quickly developed political overtones with Beijing suspicious that the visit would lead to closer links between Taiwan and the exiled Tibetan leader.
Both the exiled Tibetan government and the Taiwanese government see the imminent Chinese takeover of Hong Kong and the Communist Party leadership succession as providing a possible opportunity to exert their influence. Chinese consternation over the visit was heightened when the Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui met the Dalai Lama thereby granting the visit official Taiwanese status.
Ironically the Tibetan leader would willingly accept the deal the Chinese offer to Taiwan and are imposing on Hong Kong, namely 'one country, two systems'. During his visit the Dalai Lama stated that "my position is very clear. I am not seeking independence, I am seeking genuine self-rule". He again offered to enter into talks with China "without any precondition".
Up to 80,000 people attended various religious ceremonies around the island at which the Dalai Lama officiated. When visiting the Kuangteh Temple on the outskirts of Kaohsiung 50,000 were reported to have heard an address by the Dalai Lama. The visit by the Dalai Lama also raised the matter that Taiwan itself, whilst seeking independence from mainland China, also has territorial claims on Tibet as enshrined by the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission which states that Tibetans must be regarded as Chinese subjects. Taiwanese pro-independence supporters are now pressing the government hard to abolish the Commission. Throughout the visit China accussed the Dalai Lama and the Taiwanese President of seeking to split the Chinese motherland.