China opposes USA lawmakers’ meeting with Dalai Lama

The United States does not approve of what they percieve as aggressive assertions by China to claim territory in Asia.

China today said President Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama has “violated” US’ promises on not supporting Tibetan independence and warned that it will hurt bilateral cooperation.

Although Obama has met with the Dalai Lama at the White House before, he was heavily criticized in 2010 for reportedly trying to minimize the visibility of his meeting with the spiritual leader by having him leave the White House through a back door and walk past piles of trash.

“The meeting went against the USA commitment that Tibet is a part of Chinese territory and it does not support “Tibet independence”, said a statement issued by the NPC’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Dalai Lama officially retired in 2011 from his political role as the leader of the exiled Tibetan government, but remains the head of Tibetan Buddhists.

The Dalai Lama had fled to India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

The editorial stated that the Dalai Lama has once again provoked frictions between China and Western countries, but claims he is losing political support from Europe in recent years.

“So long as Tibet maintains economic development and social stability, the meeting will be just a farce”, it said. He urged Washington to abide by its promises to recognize that Tibet is a part of China and stop any show of support for Tibet independence.

“Tibet, per U.S. policy, is considered part of the People’s Republic of China, and the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence, ” said Earnest, according to the BBC.

“Supporting Tibet’s independence is a clear interference in China’s internal affairs and is in gross violation of the norms of global relations”.

“The US government made solemn commitments”.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the choice of the residence emphasized the “personal nature of their meeting”.

Asked about more autonomy for Tibet, NSC spokesman Caggins told VOA that the USA position on China has not changed.

The Dalai Lama has advocated for a middle way – not asking for independence from China for Tibet, but for more autonomy. And the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence. But the event was postponed after the Orlando shooting, creating room on Obama’s schedule to meet with the Dalai Lama, who was already visiting Washington. “Our policy hasn’t changed after the meeting”. “The president has spoken publicly in the past about his warm, personal feelings for the Dalai Lama”, Earnest said Wednesday. Obama also appreciates his teachings and believes in preserving Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions, Earnest said. He noted in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that Xi Jinping has recognized the importance of Buddhism in Chinese culture.