China Calls on US to Retract Dalai Lama Invite
- Posted on July 15, 2011 at 9:02pm by
Scott Baker
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BEIJING (AP) — China called on the U.S. to withdraw an invitation for the Dalai Lama to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House, saying Saturday that it could hurt relations between the two countries.
China denounced the meeting and called on the U.S. to withdraw its invitation to avoid interfering in China’s internal affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website.
“We firmly oppose any foreign official to meet with the Dalai Lama in any form,” Hong said.
China‘s warning comes after months of warming ties between the world’s No. 1 economy and dominant military power and the rising Asian giant, buoyed by President Hu Jintao’s successful visit to Washington in January.
Obama’s planned meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader on Saturday could sour relations between the two sides ahead of expected visits over the coming months.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to visit the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on July 25. Vice President Joseph Biden is also scheduled to visit China this summer, followed by a trip to Washington by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Experts say a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama, paired with the recent intervention by the U.S. in Vietnam’s ongoing dispute with China in the South China Sea, could cool improving ties.
“The Dalai Lama and Tibet have long been issues that have caused tension between China and the U.S., and this meeting will without a doubt negatively impact bilateral relations,” said Niu Jun, a professor of international relations at Peking University.
“U.S. presidents have met with the Dalai Lama in the past, but this has always been unacceptable for China. The two sides will have to communicate and struggle to work through it,” he said.
Obama last met with the Dalai Lama in February 2010, infuriating Beijing, which views the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as a separatist intent on ending Chinese rule over the Himalayan region.
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly denied the accusations and says he seeks only a high level of autonomy for Tibet.
“We request the U.S. side to honor its serious commitment that recognizes Tibet as part of China and opposes Tibet independence,” Hong said in the statement.
Tibet has been a source of controversy for decades, since Beijing sent troops to occupy the country following the 1949 Communist revolution. It insists the region has been part of Chinese territory for centuries, a claim disputed by many Tibetans.
A failed uprising in 1959 led the Dalai Lama to flee into exile in India.
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Associated Press researcher Henry Hou contributed to this report.
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Follow Chi-Chi Zhang at http://twitter.com/thunderchi
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Bernard
Posted on July 17, 2011 at 4:37pmThis is the first signs of a waning super power when we take orders from the Chinese. Technically speaking when the Dalai Lama with thousands of monks and people fled Tibet after China invaded it, destroying over six thousand monasteries that were the repositories of Tibet’s religion and culture, brutalized the Tibetans and annexed it, the Dalai Lama took refuge in neighboring India who gave him and his followers not only shelter but land now called Daramsala.
Report Post »Here the Dalai Lama created a “government in exile”. By doing that China cannot claim that the Dalai Lama is “interfering in China’s internal affairs” for the Dalai Lama his the titular head of this government in exile now in India and under Indian law he is free to travel, practice his faith and speak his mind without any say from Beijing. To this day Tibetans make the arduous journey over the Himalayas carrying with them what remains of their culture to Daramsala.
It is such times that a righteous nation like the US should rebuff China‘s feeble protests and in fact resurrect the whole issue of the legality of China’s occupation of Tibet.
JOE
Posted on July 17, 2011 at 11:01amLook this is problem with CHINA in the future they themself will have a revoltion in there own but it will
Report Post »be bad for whole world …….It is impossible for them to take care of amout of ppl they have without the world helping ……..
We as America need to do a bate and switch with a real president running show like with did with Iran Pay them there debt with Gold and drop the market to 1/2 it is what happen with REAgen in the 80s was 876 and went down next day to 1/2 in 2 years to 250 it is the only way to beat the debt we owe them
hISTORY CAN REPEAT ITSELF BUT NOT WITH THIS PRESIDENT he has no idea how to make a buck……………..Only knows how to spend and give away it ……………
InversionTheory
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 11:15pmThe Dalai Lama is a religious nut and fiat ruler in his own right, I don’t know why we put up with him.
But to show China exactly what they can go do with themselves? Let’s have the Dalai Lama over for dinner every Friday night. I’m sure the president can find a half-way decent vegan chef to make the meal. That’s change I could believe in.
Report Post »miren
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:53pmSuck it china!!!!!
Report Post »silentme63
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 6:14pmMade in China.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 7:28pmHey China! Waahh!
Report Post »docmo
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 5:41pmSince the Dalai Lama recently said he admires Marx I guess he and Barry Hussein Obama have alot in common. Borscht and vodka on the menu.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 5:40pmI think we should sell a couple fully loaded nuclear subs to Taiwan. And we could offer South Korea the same deal as long as they put Captain America back in the title of the movie coming out next week.
That’s the way real American presidents should handle foreign policy.
Report Post »dumhick
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 4:20pmIf I were in the U.S. government, I’d tell the ****** to place their objection in a area where the sun never shines.
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 3:49pmWhat’s China going to do to retaliate, sell all our bonds? To whom? Just tell them to shut up!
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:10pmOK China and you quit using slave labor to manufacture everything.
Report Post »khaosmaximus
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 12:59pmScrew you China! You do not, let me repeat… NOT, dictate whom this country invites and entertains visits from!!
Report Post »Mother against stupidity
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 12:16pmHonestly it is none of chinas business who we talk and two maybe they should explain where they got the blueprint for that new stealth jet they have and why they sent their scientist to Pakistan to look at the tail of one of our helicopters that crashed while getting bin laden out. Maybe they should mind their own business and come up with original ideas on their own instead is trying to stealing it from us.
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 11:05amSince BO’s in the pocket of the Chinese, I would be very surprised if he meets with the Dalai Lama. If he does, then at least there would be one plus for him (well, he did give the go ahead to KOA bin Laden, so 2 pluses; lol). :)
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on July 17, 2011 at 1:41amThough in private, BO did indeed meet with the DL (at least that’s what I saw on Yahoo News). As much as I disagree with all that he is doing domestically as well as his idiotic crusade in Libya (we have no money), at least he did give the go ahead to kill bin Laden and now he has met with the DL. If he only understood that Keynesian Economics don’t work, we might get jobs back again. He actually once promised to renegotiated NAFTA/GATT (his motivation was environmental concerns; heck, if he actually becomes serious about renegotiating these idiotic trade agreements (i.e, just down right repeal them), the jobs will come back), but I’m not holding my breath. :)
Report Post »knockered
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 11:03amRelax. It’s just obummer stirring up the pot. Can’t wait for 2012..
Report Post »LovingAmerica
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:29amThis isn’t hard. The Dalai Lama is already invited. Parade him in and out through the front door. Tell China to stick it.
Report Post »don young
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 9:50amWe owe them so much money now they will tell us what to do just like they tell there people what to do or else no more money.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:17amThe price you pay when you let idiots run your business.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 9:37amRight. The (Marxist!) Dali Llama is not OK with those who own us, but Ahmadinajad is? Oh boy, we are so screwed.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 9:16amLets raise what we owe the world, borrow more money from China, spend millions of dollars on “educating illegals” and others that do not want to learn and will never learn, and creating a situation that no matter how much some want to learn, they cann’t. We are loosing our greatest minds and it all ties together
Report Post »And then let China say jump and these dimwits say how high.
Gonzo
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:52amTough choice for Barry, which comminist should he buddy up with? I know he hates conflict beetween himself and any of his comrades. They should all just meet in Havana for a beer summit.
Report Post »PelositheGreat
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:22amNow that the Dolly Llama :) is an announced marxist, my bet is they let him in. On the other hand, I don’t like China telling us what to do.
Report Post »Anne G
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 6:22amI believe it was just last year Obama met with the DL, and made him leave by the BACK DOOR.
Report Post »The DL had to walk past all the garbage bins. Dear Lord, what will Obama do this time?
benrush
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 5:52amWE better learn to do the kowtow for our new bosses -
Report Post »BBomber66
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 3:48amWell, well. Will da Prez continue to support the desires of the people over an oppressive regime or will he bend to the will of the socialist/fascist state that holds our debt because his advisors support communism in all its radical fascist forms? He has supported Muslim/Socialist agendas in other countries in order to foment chaos. What now, Obozo? Hmmm?
Report Post »SummerB
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:09pmBased on past performance, I’m expecting him to bend.
Report Post »