In theory, could China arrest the Dalai Lama as a rebel leader of a breakaway province?

Question

I just saw this story about the Dalai Lama offering to meet with Chinese officials to help quell protests in Tibet, which China has had de facto authority over since 1950:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080320/ap_on_re_as/india_dalai_lama

And I got to wondering as I read this, other than the international outcry that would erupt and make protests even worse in Tibet and various western provinces in China, could China in theory have the Dalai Lama arrested if he sets foot on Chinese soil as a rebel leader, since Tibet has no U.N. seat and is not recognized as a sovereign nation?

On a separate note, is the Dalai Lama allowed at the U.N. since Tibet is not recognized as sovereign?

Answer 1

The answer is if China accepts his offer, then clearly he wouldn't be arrested. If China refuses his offer, then he wouldn't be able to set foot in China in the first place, and therefore could not be arrested.

But on your comment of "de facto authority .. since 1950", that is not at all accurate.

Firstly, it is not just China that says Tibet belongs to China. All countries in the world also says Tibet belongs to China. If you don't believe me, just look at world maps from all Western countries.

But more importantly, if you look at all old maps from the West going back at least 300 years, they all recognised (and still recognise) that Tibet is part of China. So it is certainly not "since 1950" (and not de facto either).

China did for a while lose effective control of the region during the turmoils of the last century. But it also lost control of much of other parts of China, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chongqing, and dozens of other places (and even the Chinese capital). Does that then mean these places are not part of China??

One needs to remember that while Mongolia formally declared independence from China (with the help of the Russians), Tibet never did. This is the reason why all maps of today matches maps of the distant past.

Answer 2

China has no right to arrest the Dalai Lama because he has not committed any crime against China.  He is just a respected leader of the Tibetans.

Answer 3

Firstly, HH Dalai Lama did not lead any rebellion. Secondly, buddhism does not profess violence. Thirdly, Chinese govt. is looking for an escape goat. The world should unite in opposition to the horrific treatment of Tibetans. They should be given more autonomy and the chance to make decisions on their own affairs, if not their country back. Panchen Lama should also be returned by those who kidnapped him. We live in the modern world, and if China wants to be part of it, they should get used to respecting human rights.