The 14^th Dalai Lama, the highest ranked leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has made a whirlwind tour of towns and cities across Japan’s Pacific northwest since arriving in the country on October 29, continuing to cheer up the victims of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake as they grapple with the mountainous task of recovery.

　　　In Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, still showing vivid scars of the tsunami that left 3,180 of its citizens dead and 688 missing (as of November 30), the Tibetan spiritual leader in exile expressed his sympathy for the citizens’ sorrow by recalling how he himself had fled from Chinese oppression in March 1959, over a half century ago. His eyes welling up with tears, the Dalai Lama described how a large number of fellow Tibetans were murdered by the Chinese Army at the time. He then encouraged his audience to “transform your sorrow into positive energy that will strengthen the power of your own heart,” while emphasizing his desire to “share your deep pain and sorrow.” (Asahi Shimbun, on November 16)

　　　He further encouraged Ishinomaki citizens to “do your utmost to protect your children who have had such a sad and terrible experience, and help bring them up to become truly tenacious and strong-willed human beings,” and asked to be “invited to this city of yours once you begin to recognize signs of a happy future coming your way even to the slightest extent -€ because I sincerely wish to celebrate the occasion with you.” The Dalai Lama further emphasized he has no doubt whatsoever the Japanese will get back on their feet again. (Kahoku Shinpo, November 16)

　　　On November 11, a bipartisan delegation of Diet members representing the incumbent Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the leading opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) called on the Dalai Lama in Tokyo along with several members of the Japan Institute of National Fundamentals (JINF), a private Tokyo think tank which I head.

　　　It was my second occasion to have the honor of meeting His Holiness since September 22, when he kindly made himself available for a session with a small Japanese delegation visiting Dharamsala, the northern Indian home of the Tibetan government-in-exile. It was most gratifying that my wish, conveyed to the Tibetan spiritual leader in September, to have a bipartisan group of Japanese parliamentarians welcome him on his next visit to Japan -€ his 11^th actually -€ came true. Eight members each from the DPJ and LDP made up the bipartisan group, including Akihisa Nagashima, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Shu Watanabe, Deputy Defense Minister, on the DPJ side. The LDP side included former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Hirofumi Shimomura, former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. It was the first time that highly positioned Japanese government officials conferred with the Dalai Lama.

　　　Until just a week ago, the Japanese government had avoided direct contact with the Dalai Lama out of concern for China. Such a posture is highly unusual among the world’s most developed nations. Nagashima and Watanabe tore down this unprecedented barrier with words of profound gratitude for the prayers the Dalai Lama offered for the people in the disaster-hit regions, while Abe -€ as a political leader in one of the world’s most advanced nations -€ vowed to commit himself to sincerely facing up to the human rights issues involving Tibet and Uyghur.

　　　On his part, His Holiness noted he holds a deep affinity for Japan and its people, pointing out that Japan “as a Buddhist nation managed to rise from the ashes of defeat in World War II,” and expressing his hope to see Japan, against such a backdrop, “become a true leader in Asia by fully utilizing its democratic institutions and industrial power.”

Values Shared by the International Community

　　　The Dalai Lama’s prayers are dedicated to all the people on earth, transcending national boundaries, race, and ethnicity. During a meeting lasting slightly over one hour, he elaborated on the importance of respecting the basic human rights and indigenous culture of the people of any country. Additionally, he explained the significance of what Tibet has demanded, which he explained as “not independence, per se, but true autonomy that is genuinely meaningful to the Tibetan people.” He pointed out:

　　　“Deng Xiaoping’s call in 1979 for an exchange of views gave those of us Tibetans in exile who had lived in India since 1959 some hope for the future. Deng said in effect: ‘As far as dialogue with Tibet is concerned, everything can be discussed except for its independence.’ What we Tibetans have always demanded was not independence, but autonomy that will allow us to freely adhere to our indigenous religion, language and social practices. However, that has failed to materialize. Instead, the situation has been further aggravated under President Hu Jintao’s administration despite his promise to build infrastructures that will secure social harmony and stability. Something quite contrary has occurred under his 10-year rule.”

　　　Although the Dalai Lama did not mention it, we know as a fact, based on announcements by the Tibetan government-in-exile and reports in the international media, that a total of 11 monks and nuns, ranging in age from 18 to 35, have burned themselves to death this year alone under China’s brutal oppression of the Tibetans. The Dalai Lama elaborated:

　　　“No government can continue suppressing human spirit interminably through pressure and brute force. Under such opposition, hatred in the human heart is destined to flare up beyond a single generation. The Chinese government should logically be expected to want to resolve the ethnic problems it has for long faced. If so, it is about time for the Chinese to realize that their 60 years of suppression of Tibet has not brought about any favorable results.”

　　　Human beings are entitled to thinking freely, embracing any religion, and preserving their ancestral culture as they wish. Japan, a developed nation committed to looking after its citizens, must voice staunch objections to such an inhumane rule as China’s, which pitilessly denies its citizens a fundamentally humane way of life, driving certain of them to chose self-immolation.

　　　Insistence by the Japanese government on the significance of democracy, freedom, and human rights perfectly coincides with the prayers the Dalai Lama offers not just for the Tibetans but also the 1.3 billion Chinese. It also overlaps snugly with the values shared commonly by the international community, in particular the more developed nations.

　　　Commenting on the talk Nagashima and Watanabe had with the Dalai Lama, the Chinese government issued a statement on November 8, expecting Japan to “deal with the problem discreetly and properly.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told the press he had reprimanded Nagashima and Watanabe, reminding them that it had long been the common practice within the Japanese government to avoid contact with the Dalai Lama.

　　　That may have been so in the past. But the times have changed, with a most serious question confronting Japan today vis-a-vis Tibet:Is Japan allowed to continue behaving in such a spineless way? Whenever the Dalai Lama travels to another country, he is received as a dignitary in a class with real heads of state. China is the only country in the world which dubs him “a secessionist and traitor” and launches angry protests every time he confers with the representatives of foreign governments. However, the rest of the world is happy and honored to receive the Tibetan spiritual leader with great respect and courtesy, while simultaneously making steady efforts to sustain a relationship with Beijing as rationally and maturely as possible.

Symbol of Freedom and Human Rights Problems

　　　While in office, former US President George W. Bush conferred with the Dalai Lama four times. In October 2007, when the US Congress awarded the Tibetan leader in exile with a Congressional Gold Medal -€ the top US civilian honor -€ Bush attended the ceremony with his wife, along with the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House, as well as members of both chambers, to congratulate the Dalai Lama. Retorting China’s furious charges, Bush remarked:

　　　“I have always stated to China that recognizing freedom of religion would serve its national interests. I have also stated that it would be good for the Chinese to talk with the Dalai Lama.”

　　　As President, Bush thus demonstrated his undaunted resolve to continue safeguarding democracy and human rights -€ the values that have historically constituted the pride of his nation.

　　　President Barak Obama, more restrained than his predecessor in terms of overtures toward China, shied away from meeting the Tibetan leader when he visited the US on September 23, 2009. He had a state visit to China scheduled for November that year. Congress and the US media harshly criticized Obama for his posture, but the president had in fact dispatched a high-ranking White House official to the Tibetan government-in-exile in India as his special envoy to explain the situation beforehand.

　　　Then in February the following year, when the Dalai Lama made another visit to the US, Obama welcomed him at the White House. In point of fact, Obama never buckled under Chinese pressure.

In 2008, French President Nicolas Sarkozy became the target of severe criticism for failing to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to France; Sakorzy was in fact in Beijing at the same time to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics. However, Sarkozy’s wife Carla, who could be considered his proxy, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, and Minister for Human Rights Rama Yade hurried to an event being attended by the Tibetan leader in exile, with Kouchner declaring “the Dalai Lama is always welcome in France.” (Asahi Shimbun, September 29, 2008)

　　　Later that year -€ December 6, 2008 to be exact -€ Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama at a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in the Polish city of Gdansk, despite Chinese objections.

　　　Both Germany and England have welcomed the Dalai Lama. On his visit to London in May 2008, not only Prime Minister Gordon Brown but also Prince Charles held congenial talks with him.

　　　Last August, the Dalai Lama delegated all his political authority to Prime Minister Lobsang Sangai, completely retiring from politics. Virtually all the nations of the world treat the spiritual leader with respect and reverence, and seek ways to maintain reasonably stable relations with Beijing, instead of dodging the Tibetan problem, which has become a symbol of freedom and human rights.

　　　Japan’s DPJ administration has belatedly reached the stage where highly positioned government officials have finally managed to meet with the Dalai Lama. The DPJ government should feel proud of what Messrs. Nagashima and Watanabe have accomplished, instead of reprimanding them for breaking the taboo.

(Translated from “Renaissance Japan” column No. 485 in the November 17, 2011 issue of The Weekly Shincho.)