Commentary: Criticizing KFC's branch opening in Tibet over rights concerns is silly

Criticizing American fast food chain KFC for opening a branch in Tibet over human rights concerns is just plain silly, and is merely a desperate cry from Tibetan separatists.

KFC opened the outlet on Tuesday in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, making it the first big Western fast food chain in China's most remote region.

Tibetan separatists decried the move, saying KFC is now operating in "occupied" territory.

But the opening of the restaurant more than a decade after KFC planned to establish a foothold in Tibet reflects the economic and social development the region has witnessed in recent years, something separatists routinely overlook.

Today, Tibet is home to a sound market environment, which is one of the main reasons why KFC chose to open an outlet there.

Official data shows that Tibet had attracted investment from 57 foreign companies by the end of 2014. The opening of a KFC restaurant will further help promote the integration of Tibet with the outside world.

KFC's foothold in the Tibetan market shows that the once underdeveloped and sealed region in southwest China has become more open, paving the way for establishing links not only to other parts of China but also overseas regions and countries.

Moreover, setting up a KFC in Lhasa satisfies the local population's growing demand for diversified foods and higher quality of living.

The long queues in the restaurant on its first day and kids who posed for photos in front of the store shows just how popular the brand has already become.

Furthermore, tourism in Tibet is booming, and that means the demand for fast food is only likely to rise.

Tibet welcomed a record 20 million tourists in 2015, among whom 11.79 million visited Lhasa. This generated 4.26 billion U.S. dollars in tourism revenue, nearly three times the figure in 2010.

Therefore, the opening of the KFC restaurant in Tibet will undoubtedly have a positive economic, cultural and social impact.

But why has a fast food restaurant drawn criticism from groups led by the Dalai Lama? The answer is simple: The separatists will grab at anything in a desperate attempt to split Tibet from its motherland.

The Dalai Lama, the biggest serf owner in old Tibet disguised as a universal moral mentor, is not suited to discuss human rights.

He once wrote a letter of protest to Yum Brands, the U.S. fast food company that owns KFC, saying that the cruel treatment endured by chickens raised and killed for KFC "violates Tibetan values." But himself has never refused to eat beef, chicken and fish.

The claims that Beijing has marginalized the people of Tibet and eroded the Tibetan culture are simply groundless because Tibet has been under the direct rule of the Chinese central government since the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century and is an inalienable part of China.

These so-called "rights groups" have failed to acknowledge the fast economic and social development Tibet has witnessed over the past few decades, something that has greatly improved the livelihoods of the local population, including Tibetans.

They also fail to see how the coexistence of different nationalities in Tibet signifies a new Tibet, one that is more open and inclusive. These are important features that attract foreign companies, including KFC.

No one except for the Dalai Lama and his clique desires to return to the self-enclosed and poor Tibet of more than half a century ago. A modern Tibet is a nightmare for the separatists. It means their political influence is waning and that Tibetans are ready for change. Endi