Barack Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama. Beijing threatens diplomatic crisis

The relations between China and the United States have reached a critical juncture, following the controversy over cyber-attacks on Google by hackers in China, and sale by the U.S. companies of arms to Taiwan. The diplomatic tensions between the first and the third largest economy in the world could undermine any agreement at the UN headquarters - where Beijing has the right to veto - on sanctions on Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs, on climate change and imbalances in trade.

Yesterday, the White House confirmed the meeting between Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama - branded a "separatist" leader - despite the threat of China. Bill Burton, spokesman for the presidential office, recalls that Obama himself had warned his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao during his official visit last year, that he "would meet the Dalai Lama and that is what he intends to do." He added that relations between the two countries are "mature enough to work in areas where there are common concerns" such as nuclear energy, climate and global economy "to discuss with frankness and candour areas where there is disagreement."

Beijing’s reply was immediate, delivered by the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, according to who already in November, President Hu had asked Obama not to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader, a gesture that offends the feelings of Chinese people. But Zhaoxu reiterates that the government is "firmly opposed to any contact between the leader of the United States and the Dalai Lama, under any pretext or form". The spokesman of the Foreign Ministry called on Washington to "avoid causing further damage to Sino-American relations".

The arrows fired from Beijing are nothing new. The Chinese government has always used the weapon of "internal matter" and "economic blackmail" to prevent the spiritual leader of Tibetans - who considers the region part of China and calls for "autonomy" for his people - to have contacts with leaders of the world.

However, over the past 20 years, all American presidents - including Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush – have received Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama, triggering fiery words of the Chinese government, but no substantial retaliation. Unlike the case of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who at the end of 2008 met the Tibetan leader during the French presidency of the European Union. In response, China cancelled a planned summit with the EU.

Today, the Chinese reaction to the announcement of the face to face meeting between the two Nobel Peace Prize Winners could have an impact on nuclear energy, with a possible veto on United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran and North Korea. From the Chinese Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, has confirmed the threat of "appropriate sanctions" against American companies that sell arms to Taiwan, because they "have ignored the opposition of China."