China warns Taiwan over inviting Dalai Lama

Former president of Taiwan Ma Ying-Jeou, who wanted to forge closer ties with China, refused entry to the spiritual leader on numerous occasions, after his last to the nation in 2009, Reuters reported.

Although Taiwan is self-ruled, China considers the territory its own and is apprehensive that the new government led by President Tsai Ing-wen may permit the Dalai Lama to make a visit.

“From the perspective of the freedom of speech and asserting Taiwan’s sovereign independence, we have no cause to follow the example of the Ma [Ying-jeou] administration in refusing the Dalai Lama’s visit”, Gao said.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of being a “wolf in monk’s robes” seeking Tibetan independence through “spiritual terrorism”.

Freddy Lim, one of Taiwan’s most famous heavy-metal singers and an outspoken critic of China, had invited the Dalai Lama, 81, for a visit earlier this month.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang said at a news briefing in Beijing that the exiled monk “wears religious clothes to carry out separatist activities”. The mainland also said that if Taiwan allows the visit, the move will impact ties between the country “severely”.

If the Dalai Lama visits Taiwan, it can escalate the tension between the two entities.

Mr Lim’s assistant Kenny Chang told Reuters that the Dalai Lama is highly respected in Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Taiwan Foreign Minister David Lee told lawmakers in parliament that if the Dalai Lama decides to come, the ministry will review the matter carefully, according to Taiwanese media.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, is considered a separatist by the Chinese government.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has not said whether the government would allow a visit by the Dalai Lama, who congratulated Tsai on her “remarkable” victory in the January 16 election.