The Wire

China has already made plans to extend its one-month-old rail link to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.Chinese authorities claim the rail linking is promoting tourism and developing the Tibetan economy. However, critics fear it is nothing more than a political move to assimilate Tibet into mainstream China in the long run. Executive Officer of Australian Tibet Council, Paul Bourke spoke to Rachna Subir Sen about the increased possibility of economic exploitation of Tibet along with environmental damage and changes in demographic patterns.