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China says Obama, Dalai Lama meeting will damage USA-China ties

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The private meeting between US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama will “jeopardize ChinaUS mutual trust and cooperation,” Beijing said Thursday.

“We urge the United States to stop meddling in China’s domestic affairs using Tibet and Tibetrelated matters,” Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press conference in Beijing.

Obama on Wednesday received the Tibetan spiritual leader for the fourth time as president, despite “strong opposition” from China.

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Although the White House had clarified that the meeting was of a personal nature and that the United States still does not support the independence of Tibet, the Chinese spokesperson called the meeting an “interference” in China’s domestic policy.

Lu said that regardless of its nature, the meeting still violated US promises to recognize Tibet as part of China and not supporting Tibetan independence and separatist activities.

“The 14th Dalai Lama is not just a religious figure, but a political exile who has long been engaged in antiChina separatist plots under the cloak of religion,” said the spokesperson.

Beijing maintains Tibet is an integral part of the country and accuses the Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile in India since 1959, of being a leader of the Tibetan independence movement.