Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government has recognised that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China. That has been recognised by every Australian government. When supporters of the Dalai Lama imply that the borders of Tibet be stretched to include parts of the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, they make it far more difficult for any Chinese government to do the sorts of things we want when it comes to response to human rights. That is provocative policymaking in the extreme. We hold concerns for human rights in Tibet and in other parts of China. Promoting improvements in human rights in China is an Australian goal. It is a high priority for the government. I have, of course, as all senators have, been nothing less than appalled by the self-immolations. I have a list here of the occasions on which our embassy has raised the matter with the Chinese.