Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what change there has been in the Government's policy towards the status of Tibet and the integrity of the culture of Tibetan people within China; and what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on the status of Tibet.

As I stated during a Westminster Hall Debate on Tibet on 18 June, our position on Tibet has not changed. The Government position remains that of subsequent governments before it: we regard Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China and do not support independence. The Prime Minister confirmed this position with Premier Li during the UK-China Summit in June last year.

We support the protection of cultural rights throughout China, and remain concerned by restrictions to these rights in ethnic minority regions, including Tibet.

We maintain our belief that long term stability in Tibet will be best achieved through respect for the universal principles of human rights, and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. Meaningful dialogue is the best way to address and resolve the underlying differences between Tibetan communities and the Chinese government, and we continue to encourage all sides to restart talks as soon as possible.