Despite China, Leader Meets Dalai Lama

Risking China’s wrath, Prime Minister John Howard met with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled Buddhist leader. China had given Howard strong warnings that it might launch trade and economic sanctions against Australia in retaliation for such a meeting. Howard made no comment after the talks. Earlier, however, he said he would not “bow to Chinese threats” and that he regards the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader rather than a political figure. Beijing believes the Dalai Lama is agitating for Tibetan independence from China.