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China opposes Barack Obama-Dalai Lama meeting

China is opposed to the idea of Barack Obama meeting Dalai Lama and Taiwan's new President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to United States.

Beijing: Voicing its strong opposition to President Barack Obama's proposed meeting with the Dalai Lama and the upcoming maiden US visit by Taiwan's new President Tsai Ing-wen, China on Tuesday said that America should keep its promise to abide by the 'One-China' policy.

"The 14th Dalai Lama often puts up the facade of religion to peddle internationally his political position of splitting China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, replying to a question on the Tibetan spiritual leader's comments that his meeting with US president is likely. "We demand no country or government give him any space for such activities and should certainly not do anything the 1.3 billion people of China would resolutely oppose," he said.

Despite China's opposition, Obama had met Dalai Lama in the past.

Beijing considers 80-year-old Tibetan monk as a separatist who is attempting to split Tibet from China. On Tsai's transit visit to US, Lu said, "the US government has made serious commitments to 'One-China' Policy and against Taiwan's independence".

"Hope the US will fulfil its commitment and deal with relevant matters in accordance with the 'One-China' policy and do not send wrong signal to those who try to split China," he said.

Tsai, who is opposed to reunification of Taiwan with China, is due to transit in Miami on her way to Panama, which still holds diplomatic ties with Taipei despite opposition from Beijing. China considers Taiwan as a rebel province and claims it as part of its mainland. Report said Tsai would also make a stopover in Los Angeles on her return.

( Source : PTI )
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