China fumes as US leaders call on Dalai Lama

Beijing: China lodged a diplomatic protest with the US on Wednesday over a Congressional delegation’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in India, saying the move sent a “wrong signal” to the world and violated America’s commitment not to support Tibet’s independence.

“The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities in foreign countries under the pretext of religion, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing.

He was replying to questions on a US Congressional delegation headed by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi meeting the 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader in Dharamsala. “The Dalai Lama is also the head of the Tibetan independence group,” Mr Geng said when asked whether the US delegation’s visit, which is the first after US President Donald Trump took over office in January, signals his administration’s policy towards Tibet.

Mr Geng said the US delegation’s visit to Dharamsala and their meeting with the Dalai Lama has “sent a very wrong signal to the outside world about supporting Tibetan independence and violated the US government’s commitment not to support Tibet’s independence.”