Barack Obama’s Meeting with 14th Dalai Lama Has Infuriated Beijing

The Chinese authorities have called a meeting between Barack Obama and the 14th Dalai Lama a “gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”

The Tibetan spiritual leader has been in Washington for an 11-day Buddhist ritual. Although everyone travelling on the local metro system has noticed nice monks dressed in colorful robes, the Dalai Lama was invited to the White House no earlier than last Saturday — shortly before his departure from America.

Obama is, in fact, much more cautious than George W. Bush, the first American president who, despite the protests of Chinese people, publicly appeared with the 14th Dalai Lama when he received the highest civilian honor in the U.S. — the Congressional Gold Medal.

For the current U.S. president, every visit of the Dalai Lama in Washington is a real challenge — Obama is trying not to offend him or the authorities in Beijing, who have cautioned the White House against meeting with the leader of the Tibetans.

The ongoing 45-minute private talk between two Nobel Peace Prize laureates was a closed-door meeting and the media obtained only one official photo. In order not to enrage the Chinese people, Obama met with the most famous Tibetan in the Map Room, and not in the Oval Office — which, according to the tradition of American presidents, is reserved for visiting world leaders. Nevertheless, the 14th Dalai Lama stressed that he is fully satisfied with his talk with Barack Obama.

The White House also announced in a statement: “The President reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world. He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China.” The statements of not only the Americans, but also of the spiritual leader of Tibet, underscored that they do not seek independence for Tibet.

Despite this, Beijing has strongly rebuked Barack Obama, stating that “[s]uch an act has grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and damaged Sino-American relations.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu added, “We demand the U.S. side seriously consider China’s stance, immediately adopt measures to wipe out the baneful impact, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and cease to connive and support anti-China separatist forces that seek ‘Tibetan independence’.” The Chinese authorities have considered the 14th Dalai Lama as a separatist figure, despite the fact that he has stated repeatedly that his goal is for Tibetan autonomy rather than independence.