American delegation meets Dalai Lama, China protests

CHINA ON Wednesday lodged a diplomatic protest with the US over a Congressional delegation’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in India, saying the move sent a “wrong signal” to the world and violated America’s commitment of not supporting Tibet’s independence.

“The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-china separatist activities in foreign countries under the pretext of religion,’’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told journalists. He was replying to questions on House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi-led US bipartisan Congressional delegation’s meeting with the 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader in Dharamshala.

“The Dalai Lama is also the headofthetibetanindependence group,” Geng said when asked whether the US delegation’s visit, thefirstafteruspresidentdonald Trumptookoverofficeinjanuary, signalshisadministration’spolicy towards Tibet.

“We urge the relevant Congressmen of the US to properly deal with the Tibetan-related issues and stop all kinds of contactswiththedalailamaandtake immediate measures to remove the negative impact,” he said.

Earlier, reports said that China has urged Trump, who also had a summit meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, not to hold any meeting with the Dalai Lama. Previous American Presidents, including Barack Obama, have met the Dalai Lama.

After the meeting, Pelosi said, “As we visit His Holiness the Dalai Lama, our bipartisan delegation comes in his spirit of faith and peace. We come on this visit to be inspired by His Holiness and demonstrate our commitment to the Tibetan people, to their faith, their culture and their language.”

The Dalai Lama told the delegation that he would be willing to visit China but it was not possible because Beijing considered him a “dangerous splittist”. China routinely protests to countries hosting the Dalai Lama or world leaders meeting with him.

AP The Dalai Lama and Nancy Pelosi in Dharamsala Wednesday.