Dalai Lama has ‘given up’ Tibet talks with China

DHARAMSALA, India — The Dalai Lama will abandon efforts to persuade China to allow autonomy in Tibet, the exiled Tibetan leader said Oct. 25. “As far as I’m concerned I have given up,” the Dalai Lama said from Dharamsala, India, home to the Tibetan government-in-exile, according to The Associated Press (AP).

It’s now up to the 6 million Tibetans to determine a new plan, the 73-year-old Buddhist leader said. About 300 Tibetan delegates will hold a special meeting in India in November, according to Reuters.

For decades, the Dalai Lama has advocated a “middle way” diplomatic approach, under which Tibet is ruled by China but has space to continue its ancient Buddhist culture. “There hasn’t been any positive response from the Chinese side,” the Dalai Lama said, according to the AP. An eighth round of Tibetan-Chinese talks was planned before the end of the month. Younger Tibetans are pressing for a more combative approach in pursuit of total freedom for Tibet.