Barack Obama meets with the Tibetan separatist, Dalai Lama XIV, in spite of China's anger
Elena Vnorovscaia / Chişinău / Moldova.ORG / -- Despite all the requests, appeals, protests and outrages from Beijing the U.S. president Barack Obama met Dalai Lama XIV, Tibet’s spiritual leader, in the White House.
The Chinese authorities have expressed serious dissatisfaction with the fact that United States hosted and even held a formal meeting with Dalai Lama, which is considered by Chinese authorities a separatist leader.
Barack Obama didn’t accept the Dalai Lama in the Oval Office, where he usually receives the heads of states, but he met the Tibet’s leader in a less formal office - Map room.
Beijing believes that meeting had damaged relations between the two countries.
It is reported that during the 45-minute private session in the Map Room, Obama "underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China."
In a statement issued after the meeting, the White House also said Obama reiterated his support for the preservation of Tibet's religious, cultural and linguistic traditions.
"The president reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world.
He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China," the White House statement said.
Nevertheless, the U.S. president recalled that America considers Tibet to be an integral part of China and that USA supports "direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences".
But China still accuses the US of harming the negotiation process between Tibet and China.
U.S. president “severely interferes in China’s internal affairs, hurts the Chinese people’s feelings and harms China-US relations.
We demand the US side to seriously consider China's stance, immediately adopt measures to wipe out the baneful impact, stop interfering in China's internal affairs and cease to connive and support anti-China separatist forces that seek 'Tibet independence'”, Ma Zhaoxu, foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday.
Mr. Ma also called on Washington to “immediately take measures to eliminate adverse fallout”.
Today Chinese authorities have long vilified the Dalai Lama as a separatist and a person who incites ethnic hatred; although he has repeatedly stated that his goal is for meaningful kind of Tibetan autonomy in Himalayan region rather than independence.
Recall that Dalai Lama XIV is the spiritual leader of Tibetan people. Also during the 1959 Tibetan uprising, which China regards as an uprising of feudal landlords, the Dalai Lama, who regards the uprising as an expression of widespread discontent, fled to India, where he denounced the People's Republic and established a Tibetan government in exile.
He had been the political leader of Central Tibetan Administration in India until 27th of April 2011.
Dalai Lama XIV won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, and is also well known for his lifelong advocacy for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.
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