There has is a tragic wave of self-immolations in Tibet that have overshadowed David Cameron’s first official visit to China. Since February 2011, more than 120 Tibetans have lit their bodies on fire as a last act of protest against the Chinese Government. The BBC report on Tibet  (02/12/13) ended with the statement: “Tibetans fear their culture is being eroded, their voices silenced, while the rest of the world looks away.” Since the violent Chinese invasion in 1949, Tibetans inside Tibet have been living under a brutal military occupation. Tibetans inside Tibet have been banned from owning their national flag, or any picture of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India with his government in 1951. In July 2013, Chinese authorities opened fire on Tibetan monks who were peacefully displaying a picture of the Dalai Lama in honor of his birthday. The Tibetan Government in Exile, now based in Dharamsala, Northern India, has tried in vain to secure the religious and political rights of its people still in Tibet. This has been made more difficult because of the isolation tactics of the Chinese government. The Chinese government uses its significant global economic influence to threaten any state that maintains relations relations with the Nobel Peace-Prize winning Dalai Lama, who the Chinese see as heading the so-called “Dalai Clique of religious fanatics”.

These unacceptable circumstances bring me to the crux of this article. David Cameron, having faced 18 months of frosty treatment from China, has finally been forgiven for meeting the Tibetan spiritual and former political leader in May last year. His planned state visit to China at the time was cancelled by the Chinese Government, amid calls for him to apologise for “interfering with China’s internal affairs”. Mr Cameron kept a portion of his dignity, and did not formally apologise, although he did issue a statement in Parliament stating the UK’s “respect for China’s sovereignty”. A disappointing concession, in the eyes of the global Tibetan community, many of whom live in London. Nevertheless, his “sins” forgiven, Cameron was finally invited back to China, where he is currently halfway through his first official state visit – playing the part of a businessman, setting up trade agreements and generally cosying up to Premier Li and President Xi Jinping. During the visit’s official press conference (at which no questions were taken from any journalists) Premier Li affirmed last year’s Parliamentary statement, that the UK had agreed to respect China’s sovereignty and territorial rights, and protect its “core interests”.

Cameron seems to be desperate for Chinese money to help the UK recover from the financial crisis. So desperate, in fact, that he is willing to overlook the estimated 1 million Tibetan deaths caused by the 60+ year military occupation. He believes that good relations with China must take priority over protecting people from abuse, cultural genocide and oppression. China is very eager for the UK to “respect its core interests” – or in other words, keep our nose out of China’s business – and is willing to pay for this respect with trade agreements. As long as Tibet is occupied, and as long as the Chinese government is committing and condoning breaches of basic human rights, doing business in China means doing bad business. It means turning a blind eye to the plight of innocent people. Becoming an economic ally to China when human rights abuses are at a critical state means sponsoring China’s human rights abuses. In entering into business relations with China, the UK government is showing its complete lack of global awareness or morals.

British media is skeptical that the UK is a big enough player to exert any influence on a global power like China, which adds to the mental image of the UK as a frightened kid sucking up to the biggest bully in the schoolyard to avoid getting picked on. The EU is also skeptical, and has countered Mr Cameron’s valiant attempts to kick-start a free-trade agreement between China and the EU, saying that his attempts are “premature”. The global displaced Tibetan community and their supporters have responded with petitions and demonstrations, calling for David Cameron to “Stand Up for Tibet”, to provide a voiceless country with a platform, and to remove all support for the oppressive Chinese regime.

China may be the biggest bully in the schoolyard, but surely there are some world leaders left with the moral integrity to stand up to them?

Image Source: BBC