CHINA-USA/DALAI LAMA REAX China says against foreign countries receiving Dalai Lama

Record ID: 872728

  • Title: CHINA-USA/DALAI LAMA REAX China says against foreign countries receiving Dalai Lama
  • Date: 6th February 2015
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (FEBRUARY 6, 2015) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI SAYING: "The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long waved the flag of religion to engage in anti-China separatist activities. We oppose any country allowing the Dalai Lama to visit, and we are against any country using the Tibet issue to interfere in China's domestic affairs. The Dalai Lama travels around to seek foreign support for his political agenda, his scheme will not succeed." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9W544GDTVL61K87VAYT8YB8P5
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  • Story Text: China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday (February 6) it opposed foreign countries receiving the Dalai Lama, after U.S. President Barack Obama warmly acknowledged the Buddhist religious leader, but did not meet him directly, at a prayer event in Washington.
    "The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long waved the flag of religion to engage in anti-China separatist activities. We oppose any country allowing the Dalai Lama to visit, and we are against any country using the Tibet issue to interfere in China's domestic affairs. The Dalai Lama travels around to seek foreign support for his political agenda, his scheme will not succeed," the ministry's spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks in a daily briefing in Beijing.
    Hong stopped short of directly condemning Obama, likely because there was no face-to-face meeting.
    Obama and the Dalai Lama were at an annual prayer breakfast in Washington on Thursday (February 5) where Obama spoke about the importance of religious freedom.
    Obama, who greeted the Buddhist monk with a bow-like gesture, called him "a good friend" and "a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion and who inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings".
    Last February, Obama held low-key talks in Washington with the Nobel Peace laureate, whom China considers a "wolf in sheep's clothing". The talks greatly angered Beijing, which had warned they would damage ties.
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