Cautioned to believe for shift in China Tibet policy

Reports of a relaxation of anti-Dalai Lama policies in Sichuan, Qinghai and even the Tibetan Autonomous Region surfaced last week, only to be swiftly denied by both government and monastery officials. Tibetan writer Woeser added her own voice, tweeting “this is untrue! There’s been no relaxation at all! This is completely groundless!“Nevertheless, it seems that limited, experimental concessions in particularly sensitive areas may be occurring, reportedly including a loosening of restrictions on images of the Dalai Lama, a lifting of requirements that he be publicly denounced, and an easing of security forces’ intervention in monastery “disturbances”. Coming on the heels of Central Party School scholar Jin Wei’s public call for limited rapprochement with the exiled religious leader, these experiments may offer hope that China’s hard line on Tibet is starting to soften. Nothing is there for any solid showdown from any side of the government though.