CHINA/FILE: Beijing denounces proposed Dalai Lama visit to Taiwan.

Record ID: 1385651

  • Title: CHINA/FILE: Beijing denounces proposed Dalai Lama visit to Taiwan.
  • Date: 29th August 2009
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (FEBRUARY 17, 2010) (ANI) NAME PLATE CONFISCATED COUNTERFEIT CHEQUES ON DISPLAY SIGNATURE ON THE COUNTERFEIT CHEQUE VARIOUS OF COUNTERFEIT CHEQUES (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARSH BEHAL, SPOKESPERSON OF CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, SAYING: "The gang involves members in US and an Indian national based in New Delhi, who developed his computerised printi
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2009 16:23
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4HTDM96AWEF1P4ZLRES6SEKY3
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: China says it is opposed to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's proposed visit to Taiwan.
    China promptly denounced a proposed trip to Taiwan by the Dalai Lama on Thursday (August 27), saying any such visit by a man Beijing brands a separatist was a threat to "sabotage" improving relations, state television (CCTV) reported on Friday (August 28).
    Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing, approved the visit by the Nobel Peace laureate to comfort victims of a deadly typhoon at a time of burgeoning trade and investment between the rivals.
    "The Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure. Under the pretext of religion, he (the Dalai Lama) has all along been engaged in separatist activities. No matter under what form or identity, the Dalai Lama uses to enter Taiwan, we resolutely oppose this. When people from all sectors on the mainland are lending a hand to help Taiwan reconstruct and overcome the typhoon disaster quickly, some of the people in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) use the disaster rescue excuse to invite Dalai to Taiwan to sabotage the hard-earned positive situation of cross-straits relations. This evil intention will for sure inspire strong objection from compatriots on both sides of the Strait," China's Taiwan Affairs Bureau said in a statement read out by a CCTV anchor.
    Beijing brands the India-based Tibetan luminary as a separatist and condemns his trips abroad.
    However, China is considered unlikely to retaliate by choking off growing economic ties between the long-time political rivals.
    By blaming the opposition DPP and not Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou or the ruling Nationalist Party (KMT), Beijing may have indicated it does not wish to escalate the issue.
    About 650 people are feared dead after Typhoon Morakot, the island's worst typhoon in 50 years.
    China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's KMT fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.
    But Beijing is also aware any strong moves against the Dalai Lama could play into the hands of Taiwanese opponents of President Ma, who has sought to ease tensions with Beijing.
    Taiwan, home to a large exiled Tibetan community and millions of Buddhists, allowed visits by the Dalai Lama in 1997 and 2001.
    The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule over Tibet.
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