China opposes US support to Dalai Lama

Jul 07, 2011 |

Beijing

Tags:

Dalai Lama

China on Thursday firmly opposed to the US having any official talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who is currently visiting America.

“We are firmly against the Dalai Lama engaging in activities aimed at splitting the motherland through overseas visits,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told a media briefing here on Thursday.

“We are firmly opposed to foreign governments or any political figures supporting and encouraging such activities.”

The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner is scheduled to meet with US lawmakers including Speaker John Boehner and minority leader Nancy Pelosi, the top House member from President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party.

China took strong exception to Obama’s meeting with the Tibetan leader in 2009 which caused major disruption in bilateral ties as Beijing called of military contacts both on this issue as well as US arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as its part.

There is no word yet whether Obama would meet the Dalai Lama this time.

“We hope the US will strictly abide by its commitments on the Tibet religious issue, proceed from the overall interests of bilateral relations and cautiously and properly handle the relevant issue,” Hong said.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of being a separatist determined to establish an independent Tibet — charges the the Buddhist leader has long denied.

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