China urges US to withdraw decision on Obama-Dalai Lama meet
China Friday urged the United States to immediately withdraw a
decision on a meeting between President Barack Obama and exiled Tibetan
spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, Xinhua news agency reported.
The White House has defied angry Chinese protests and said Obama
would meet the Dalai Lama next week, just as he seeks Beijing's help in
imposing tough new sanctions on Iran.China had lodged a solemn
representation with Washington, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Ma
Zhaoxu said, according to Xinhua."China firmly opposes the Dalai Lama
visiting the United States and US leaders' contacting with him," Ma
said.
"We urge the US side to fully understand the high sensitivity of
Tibet-related issues, honour its commitment to recognising Tibet as part
of China and opposing 'Tibet independence'," Ma said.Despite political
pressure at home, Obama avoided meeting the Dalai Lama when the Buddhist
monk was in Washington last year, in an apparent bid to set relations
off on a good foot with Beijing early in his presidency.
Obama, however, told Chinese leaders during his trip to Beijing in
November that he planned to meet with the Dalai Lama, who is widely
respected in the United States but branded a separatist by Beijing.
Obama also knows Chinese support is vital if he is to succeed in
winning unanimous backing at the UN Security Council for the tough
regime of sanctions he wants to impose on Iran for stepping up its
suspect nuclear work.Next week's meeting in Washington comes at a time
when relations have already soured over the sale of a 6.4-billion-dollar
package of US weapons to Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a Chinese
territory. -AFP
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