Beijing threatens Obama: relationships at risk if he receives the Dalai Lama
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama "would seriously threaten" relations between Beijing and Washington. This was the statement expressed by a Chinese official two weeks ahead of the Tibetans spiritual leaders visit to the United States. Dharamsala - the seat of the Tibetan government in exile – rejects of the Chinese government threat and stresses that "there is no reason" to fear any discussion "between Obama and his holiness."
During a press conference held today, Zhu Weiqun – a Communist Party official and head of the Department of Labour - said that Beijing was "firmly opposed" to a meeting between the two Nobel peace prize winners. He adds that it "will significantly undermine the political basis of Sino-American relations", at a time when relations between China and the United States are experiencing a critical moment.
In recent weeks, the cases of Google and the array of Chinese cyber-attacks, combined with the sale of U.S. arms to Taiwan, branded as "gross interference" by Beijing, have heightened the tension between the two countries. "If the American leaders - continued Zhu Weiqun - choose to meet with the Dalai Lama right now, all this will end up putting at risk the trust and cooperation between China and the United States."
But the U.S. government has yet to confirm a meeting between Barack Obama and Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama, who next February 16 will begin an official visit to the United States. However the U.S. administration says that the meeting will take place at an appropriate stage. Besides all the predecessors of Obama have received the spiritual leader of Tibetans, attracting widespread ridicule in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, has rejected the threats from China. Thubten Samphel, government spokesman, emphasized that "the role of the United States is to facilitate a just and honest dialogue between the envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government." He added that America "supports the approach of his Holiness," that "the Tibetan issue must be solved in the context of the Chinese Constitution."
Last week, finally, a group of envoys of the Dalai Lama met with Chinese government officials in Beijing. Zhu Weiqun reports that the summit highlighted the "deep divisions" between the parties on the status of Tibet. The communist government confirms that "national interests [i.e Chinese] are inviolable and there is no place for discussions about national and territorial sovereignty”.
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