Hope India honours commitment on Tibet: China

China on Thursday hoped that India will honour its commitment on Tibet issue while accusing the Dalai Lama group of attempting to sow unrest in the Himalayan region for the past few days but said the situation had 'stabilised' now.

"We hope that India will proceed from the overall interest of our bilateral relations and honour its commitment," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing when asked if Beijing was satisfied with the Indian government's handling of protests by Tibetans.

"A few monks in Lhasa city have made some disturbances for a couple of days and were trying to sow some unrest. This is a political scheme of the Dalai group," he said.

The Dalai group was attempting to separate Tibet from China and ruin the 'normal, harmonious and peaceful life of Tibetan people', he said, following the protests which erupted on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Beijing's rule.

China had earlier confirmed that the authorities in Lhasa had quelled protests by monks, amidst reports about the arrests of many of them during a march to the Potala Palace calling for an end to the police crackdown on religious figures.

In tandem, Tibetans in exile in India have also launched a march to Tibet to protest China holding the Olympics.

"Thanks to the efforts of the local government and the democratic administration of the temple, the situation in Lhasa has been stabilised," Qin said.

Qin said ever since Tibet began democratic reform and ended the menace of serfdom 49 years ago, it had been witnessing 'great changes', with the common aspiration of Tibetan people and all ethnic groups being safeguarding the national unification, ethnic solidarity and social harmony.

"So, the scheme of the Dalai Group is doomed and development of Tibet cannot be blocked by any forces".

The Chinese government was determined to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and was 'resolute and firm' in protecting its national unification.          

On protests by Tibetans in exile in India, he said China was opposed to the Dalai group engaging in activities to split China and 'ruin the ethnic solidarity'.

"We are resolutely opposed to it."

Qin said no country in the world had recognised Tibet as an independent country and, since ancient times, it had been an inalienable part of China.

"Indian officials have said that India will never support the Dalai group."

He said some Tibetans in exile in India were trying to cross the border and 'we are resolutely opposed their separatist activities'.

Qin said Tibetans could come back to China on two pre-conditions that, firstly, they should admit that Tibet is part of China and, secondly, they should 'admit themselves' to be Chinese.