The vice chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, said Sunday the religious leader wanted to use the riots to separate Tibet from China, Xinhua reported.

The 98-year-old adviser noted Tibet has long been a recognized part of China and its independence has never been officially recognized in China.

"Tibet has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times," he told the state-run Chinese news agency. "None of the central governments in history had recognized Tibet's independence."

The senior official told Xinhua that despite the recent riots, Tibetans enjoy greater autonomy than they did under the previous Chinese governmental regime.

"Anyone who once lived in two regimes will recognize the great progress Tibet has made under the socialist system after liberation and the people have become masters of their own affairs," he said.