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Wednesday, 23 May, 2001, 21:00 GMT 22:00 UK
US backs Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a vocal advocate of Tibetan rights
President George W Bush has offered his strong support to the Dalai Lama and his efforts to initiate a dialogue with the Chinese Government over Tibet.
In a statement issued after meeting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader at the White House, Mr Bush said he would "encourage dialogue" and hoped that Beijing would respond favourably.
China regards Tibet as part of its traditional territory and sees the Dalai Lama as an independence activist. Beijing has accused the United States of interfering in its domestic affairs and hurting its interests. But senior US officials say the Dalai Lama is being received "in his capacity as a respected religious figure" - not as a political leader. 'Political exile' "The president considers the Dalai Lama an important spiritual and religious leader and looks forward to his visit," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said.
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly insisted he does not want independence for Tibet, but argued that autonomy within China may be the best solution. In his first encounter with the Bush administration, the Dalai Lama also met Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and special co-ordinator for Tibetan affairs, Paula Dobriansky. The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says it appears the Bush administration is going to follow much the same Tibet policy as Bill Clinton - pressing Beijing to end human rights abuses in Tibet, talking directly to the Dalai Lama, but not advocating Tibetan independence.
Mr Bush welcomed the Dalai Lama as China marked the 50th anniversary of its takeover of Tibet. Beijing staged a ceremony attended by 5,000 people including government leaders outside the Potala Palace, the traditional seat of the Dalai Lamas in the Tibetan capital Lhasa. Beijing has also been angered by a stopover in the US by President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province. It lodged a strong protest on Wednesday, saying that the US had "grossly interfered" in China's affairs and encouraged independence forces on the island. Taiwanese visit "China has always opposed all forms of official contacts with Taiwan by countries with which we have diplomatic relations," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao.
The US State Department said Taiwanese President Chen's visit should not have an impact on Washington's ties with China. On Tuesday, Mr Chen met the Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, held further discussions with US congressmen and visited the New York Stock Exchange. The Bush administration's decision to allow the visit - in effect a reversal of long-standing US policy - underlines its support for Taiwan in the face of criticism from China. |
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23 May 01 | Asia-Pacific
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