BEIJING - Jim Yardley of the New York Times writes:

China appeared to bend to international pressure on Friday as the government announced it would meet with envoys of the Dalai Lama, an unexpected shift that comes as violent Tibetan demonstrations in western China have threatened to cast a pall over the Beijing Olympics in August.

China's announcement, made through the country's official news agency, provided few details about the shape or substance of the talks but said the new discussions would commence "in the coming days." The breakthrough comes as Chinese officials have pivoted this week and moved to tamp down the domestic nationalist anger unleashed by the Tibetan crisis and by the protests at the international Olympic torch relay.

This blog has been calling for renewed talks with the Dalai Lama from the beginning. It is a smart PR move which diffuses international criticism over Beijing's policy in Tibet, and undermines western arguments. Many are questioning whether China is serious about the discussions; from a PR perspective, this is irrelevant. Only the appearance of engaging in substantive talks is important, and may help salvage the Olympic games from being overshadowed by the Tibet issue.

What will be interesting to see is how China's state-run media, after demonizing the Dalai Lama in recent weeks, will pivot 180 degrees. I'm also curious to know how many Chinese people - who also passionately dislike the Dalai Lama - feel about these talks.

I think this is a good move for China. While the government should be applauded for taking the first steps towards reconciliation, there remains much work to be done.