Rechercher

/ languages

Choisir langue
 

Taiwan/China - Dalai Lama

Invitation to Tibetan buddhist spiritual chief irks Beijing

Article published on the 2009-08-27 Latest update 2009-08-27 14:35 TU

Beijing has expressed strong opposition to the planned visit of the Dalai Lama to Taiwan, which China considers as one of its provinces, according to state-run media. The buddhist spiritual leader is due to travel to the island next week to console survivors of Typhoon Marakot.

Print the article

Send the article

Comments on article


Several hours after Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou approved the visit by the Dalai Lama; China's official news agency, Xinhua reported that Beijing "resolutely opposes" the proposed visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Taiwan next week. An unnamed spokesman for the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office was quoted as saying that, "the Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure. Under the pretext of religion, he has all along been engaged in separatist activities."

China opposes any foreign contact with the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in the north of India since 1959 and whom Beijing accuses of seeking independence for his Chinese-controlled homeland.

The Dalai Lama is set to arrive on Sunday, 30 August in Taiwan and to stay for five days. Ma's spokesman Wang Yu-chi said the trip was "based on humanitarian and religious considerations which should not hurt" ties between China and Taiwan. 

Ma was visiting the south of Taiwan on Thursday and doing his part to offer personal support to the people who had lost close ones or homes or other property in the typhoon.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification. Ties between the two sides had been on the mend after Ma of the Kuomintang party (KMT) was elected last year on a platform of closer links with China.            

The Dalai Lama was invited by seven mayors and local government chiefs from the opposition and pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The Chinese spokesman accused the DPP of trying to wreck the improving ties across the Taiwan Strait. He was quoted saying "obviously, this is not for the sake of disaster relief. It's an attempt to sabotage the hard-earned good situation in cross-strait relations."

last year, Taiwan, had turned away the Dalai Lama over fears of upsetting China.