China warns Botswana over Dalai Lama visit

BEIJING: Beijing issued a warning to Botswana on Wednesday over its plans to host the Dalai Lama next month, asking the African nation to respect China’s “core interests”. The Tibetan spiritual leader is due to speak at a three-day conference in Botswana, which begins August 17. China’s officially atheist ruling Communist party views the Dalai Lama as a dangerous “separatist” campaigning for Tibetan independence and consistently condemns foreign governments who welcome him.