Tibet-Chinese Relations Get Dicey

The Dalai Lama speaking in June. Recently, the spiritual leader has said he is frustrated with the state of negotiations with the Chinese government. The statements illicited a harsh response from Beijing. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

The Dalai Lama has recently taking a harder stance towards China, telling reporters that he has little faith that the current negotiations with China will bear fruit.

In response, China issued a harsh criticism of the Dalai Lama, calling him a separatist seeking to split the country with talk of Tibetan independence.

The current talks in Beijing were meant to resolve ethnic conflicts between Tibetans and the Han Chinese who have settled in region. The situation most recently flared up in March 2008, when Tibetans led a series of demonstrations and riots in protest of the anniversary of the failed 1959 uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule.

The riots were violent and when it was over, hundreds of Chinese and Tibetans were injured and there were several deaths reported on both sides.

At the heart of this conflict lies conflicting historical perspectives on who has the right to govern Tibet. Check out this article on the two sides of this debate.

To the Chinese leadership, Tibet is an inalienable part of China's territory and Tibetan affairs are part of the internal affairs of China. To the Tibetans, China is an invading force whose policies have led to a dying out of Tibetan culture.

Based on the recent statements by both sides, the future of the debate seems to be more rhetoric as Tibetan leaders gear up for a more hard-line stance that will only certainly be matched by their counterparts in Beijing.