Obama meets Dalai Lama, Beijing protests

United States President Barack Obama, ignoring strong Chinese objections, on Thursday met the Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House. Obama expressed ''strong support'' for human rights and Tibet's ''unique'' linguistic, cultural and religious identity during the meeting.

''The President stated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China,'' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. ''The President commended the Dalai Lama's ''Middle Way'' approach, his commitment to non-violence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government,'' Gibbs said in a statement.

''The President stressed that he has consistently encouraged both sides to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences and was pleased to hear about the recent resumption of talks.

''The President and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China.'' The two Nobel Peace laureates met away from cameras in the Map Room. The U.S. administration termed it a low-key, private meeting, but an angry China warned that it could worsen relations between the Pacific powers.

The Map Room in the mansion is the place where Presidents stage private meetings and the parleys with the Dalai Lama are not taking place at the more stately Oval Office where Obama frequently meets with world leaders.

On arrival in Washington on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gyari, said the religious leader would speak about Tibet, and the two were also likely to discuss global concerns. ''His Holiness will be asking the President to help find a solution in resolving the Tibet issue that would be mutually beneficial to the Tibetan and Chinese people,'' Gyari said.

An angry China upset at the Obama-Dalai Lama meeting, voiced its strong opposition, warning it had “seriously damaged” Sino-U.S. ties. The Chinese government on Friday summoned the U.S. Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, in Beijing, lodging “a solemn representation” to express its displeasure at the U.S. “obstinately” arranging the meeting.

“The U.S. has grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, gravely hurt the Chinese people’s national sentiments and seriously damaged Sino-U.S. ties,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said. Ma’s was the fourth strongly-worded statement the Chinese government has issued in recent weeks over Thursday’s meeting.

Political analysts in Beijing have dubbed this week’s sparring “the Dalai round of tensions” – only the latest in a growing list of spats the year has seen, including Chinese anger over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Washington criticising China’s valuation of its currency and the cyber-attacks on Google, which the U.S. says originated from China. Last month, China suspended military exchanges with the U.S. following Washington’s announcement of a $6.4 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including Patriot missiles and Black Hawk helicopters. In a stronger-than-usual response to the arms sales, China also imposed sanctions on the U.S. companies involved in deals with Taiwan.

Officials in Beijing have, however, privately underplayed the longer-term impact of the Tibetan religious leader’s meeting with Obama on China’s ties with Washington. They point to the interdependence between the two countries on a range of issues, from trade to international matters such as nuclear proliferation and North Korea, to stress that overall engagement will continue unaffected.

On Thursday, China granted permission for the USS Nimitz, the American aircraft carrier, to dock in Hong Kong, amid concerns the visit would be stopped in light of the recent tensions. It was a signal, analysts said, that engagement would continue as before.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, trying to lower the temperature said: “We think we have a mature enough relationship with the Chinese that we can agree on mutual interests, but also have a mature enough relationship that we know the two countries are not always going to agree on everything.”

- Asian Tribune -