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China upset Obama met with the Dalai Lama

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Sun, 17 Jul 2011 4:14p.m.

The Dalai Lama speaks after a meeting with members of Congress in Washington (Reuters)

The Dalai Lama speaks after a meeting with members of Congress in Washington (Reuters)

China has slammed President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama as an act that has "grossly interfered in China's internal affairs" and damaged Chinese-American relations, and demanded the US remedy the situation.

The strident statement from China's Foreign Ministry came hours after Obama met with the Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Washington.

China had already called on the United States to stop Saturday's meeting, warning it could hurt relations between the two countries.

But after the White House meeting went ahead, China issued a second, hardened statement and said the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in the US had lodged objections with US representatives in Beijing and Washington.

"Such an act has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and damaged Sino-American relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in the statement.

"We demand the US side 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 'Tibetan independence’," Ma said.

China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist intent on ending Chinese rule over Tibet. The Nobel laureate has repeatedly denied the accusations and says he seeks only a high level of autonomy for Tibet.

AP

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Comments

15 Sep 2011 01:39p.m.

Koyasha wrote:

China invading Tibet, is not a "internal affair". Tibet is its own country and has its own government. China needs to step out of Tibet. China is abusing Tibetans, and taking away their freedom while rest of the world does nothing.
The job of the United Nations is to prevent this, however they are not, due to the economic power that China holds.

18 Jul 2011 03:06a.m.

Dave wrote:

Hes very unlikely to have any effect, what are you so scared of Chinese dictators? feeling guilty and scared about something?.

17 Jul 2011 11:24p.m.

v wrote:

What a bunch of hypocrites! If america learns to "stay the hell out of everyone else's business" and "not control the rest of the world", the world will be a much better and peaceful place. Good on China has the gust to stand up against those bullies.

17 Jul 2011 10:57p.m.

Jer wrote:

China can suck a fat one. Free Tibet!

17 Jul 2011 05:53p.m.

katrina wrote:

Pull your head in China, you may be able to control your citizens but you can not control the rest of the world. Congrats to Obama for having the balls to ignore the demand.

17 Jul 2011 05:46p.m.

cyril wrote:

If the world listened to china the Dalai Lama would be a very lonely man. Youd think the chinese would have learnt to ignore the west talking to him or do they feel guilty about invading Tibet.

17 Jul 2011 05:24p.m.

cagen wrote:

Who cares what d.lama or b.obama do? It's not like either will ever do anything useful in their lives.

17 Jul 2011 05:24p.m.

Wolfman wrote:

Who the hell do China think they are, they may be able to dictate to their own people, but stay the hell out of everyone else's business. But there are gutless politicians in this country that cowtow down to them also so it's no surprise they flex their muscles.