US President Barack Obama will meet exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the White House in a show of concern about China's human rights practices.
Obama's midmorning session with the Dalai Lama on Friday may well draw a reprimand from China, which views him as a violent separatist because he seeks more autonomy for Tibet.
China urged the US to scrap plans for the meeting, warning it would "seriously damage" ties between the two countries.
"The United States' arrangement for its leader to meet the Dalai would be a gross interference in China's internal affairs and is a serious violation of the norms of international relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.
The meeting reflects US concerns about a wide range of Chinese activities from its human rights record to territorial tensions in the East China Sea.
Obama's strategic pivot, or rebalancing, towards Asia is seen as a reaction to the growing clout of China.
While the US recognises Tibet as part of China and does not support Tibetan independence, it supports the Dalai Lama's approach for more autonomy, said Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.
"We are concerned about continuing tensions and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas of China," Hayden said.
"We will continue to urge the Chinese government to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, as a means to reduce tensions," Hayden said in a statement announcing the 1500 GMT meeting.
The US has also been concerned about a territorial dispute between China and Japan over a remote chain of islands in the East China Sea. Washington has vowed to ignore an air defense zone declared over the area by Beijing.
The White House is expected to issue a statement about the meeting after it takes place.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/02/obama-host-dalai-lama-at-white-house-20142215611541188.html
21/2/14
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- Beijing was outraged by Cameron's meeting with the Dalai Lama -- who it condemns as a dangerous separatist -- last year, which led to a diplomatic deep-freeze between the two nations.
Spain court signs Chinese leaders' arrest warrants
- United States Government Appoints a New Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues....
WASHINGTON, DC – February 20, 2014: Dr. Sarah Sewall was appointed today as the U.S. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. Her role also includes serving as the Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues.
Dr. Sewall previously served as a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance under President Clinton and as President Obama’s national security and foreign policy transition team. Dr. Sewall is a former head of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University, a graduate of Harvard and Oxford universities, and a Rhodes Scholar.............http://tibet.net/2014/02/21/united-states-government-appoints-a-new-special-coordinator-for-tibetan-issues/
21/2/14
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China summons US official over meeting between Obama and Dalai Lama...
ReplyDeleteChina's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui summoned on Friday a senior US embassy official in China after US President Barack Obama held low-key talks with the Dalai Lama at the White House despite warnings from Beijing the meeting would damage ties.
Zhang summoned Daniel Kritenbrink, charge d'affaires of the US embassy in China, on Friday night, according to a statement posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.
"The United States must take concrete actions to regain the trust of the Chinese government and people," Zhang said.
Voice of Russia, Reuters
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_22/China-summons-US-official-over-meeting-between-Obama-and-Dalai-Lama-4608/
22/2/14
At the 55th anniversary of the Tibet uprising, a European Tribute....
ReplyDeleteThe European Economic and Social Committee's President, Henri Malosse, was a special Guest and speaker at the ceremony of the 55th anniversary of the Tibet uprising that took place today in Dharamsala (India). As the only president of the European Union to visit the government of Tibet in exile, he wanted to pay tribute to the victims of the repression in Tibet and through them to all the people deprived of liberty in China and everywhere in the world.
"The Tibet question is universal", said Henri Malosse from the stage, "it is a question of liberty, democracy and solidarity, which are the values at the foundation of the European Union". As such, Europe has these values as a legacy and must defend them everywhere they are in danger in order to find a sustainable solution. Thus, support must be brought to the Middle way approach of Tibetans - Umaylam - and to the dialogue with China. It is the same approach that claims for a European involvement in the recent events in Crimea, not by following the other actors such as Russians or Americans, but by being more coherent and imposing dialogue between all the stakeholders. These thoughts were shared by the delegation of EESC members: Anne-Marie Sigmund, Madi Sharma and Tomasz Jasiński.
The EESC's president praised the will of the Tibetan community in exile expressed through their level of organisation, democratic structures, and civil society's commitment such as its active chamber of commerce. The Tibetan people have thus shown the strength of a people fighting for its dignity for more than half a century. Even if the road seems endless for Tibetans, the solution unexpectedly can be closer than it seems, such as was the case of the iron curtain in Europe even if Europeans are still struggling to prevent its return. "The Dalai Lama spoke about what is "beyond religion" such as ethics and a universal approach", said Henri Malosse. "I will underline that we have to look for what exists "beyond empires" in politics to find a sustainable way of living together for the well-being of all peoples."
Henri Malosse finished his intervention by quoting the Dalai Lama "I hope that the 21st century will be a century of peace, a century of dialogue, a century when a more caring, responsible and compassionate humanity will emerge". .....http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.press-releases.31190
10/3/14