(Image source: The Washington Times/The White House)
BY KYLIE MCGIVERN
ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO
You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy.
Even though he’s sometimes called a figure of peace, the Dalai Lama’s White House visit sparked anger from China’s foreign minister. India’s Times Now explains.
“Despite a Chinese warning, Barack Obama went ahead and hosted the Dalai Lama for talks in the White House. The Chinese -- reacting angrily - calling Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs.”
The 14th Dalai Lama has been in exile in India since 1959. He served as the head of Tibet’s government-in-exile until retiring in March of 2010.But China sees the Dalai Lama as a separatist, because China considers Tibet part of its territory.
“Tibet has always been a part of China and no sovereign country can allow others to meet the so-called exiled leaders. ... The Tibet issue touches on sovereignty and it touches on the unity of Chinese territory and hence the Chinese Government was well within its right to protest over the meeting.”
In response, The White House emphasized Obama’s position on Tibet.
ABC reports...
“The White House says the president reiterated his strong support for the preservation of traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world... the Dalai Lama told Obama that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that talks between his representatives and the Chinese government resume.”
"Boosting strategic mutual trust is the most important consensus between the US and China. The latest meeting was clearly a violation in that regard since the US didn't notify China in advance of the arrangement and defied Beijing's repeated warnings... Though the international influence of the Dalai Lama has been decreasing, he is still good leverage for the West.”
China also protested the Dalai Lama’s meeting with Obama in February of last year.
“...threaten to sour the atmosphere for planned visits to China by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton next week and Vice President Joe Biden next month ... The timing of Saturday’s meeting was particularly sensitive as it came in the midst of the Chinese government's efforts to celebrate the 60th anniversary of what it calls the ‘peaceful liberation’ of Tibet by Communist troops.”
And PressTV reports - a major breakup between the two countries could mean devastation for the United States...
“China's condemnation comes after attempts to warm relations with the US over disagreements of its economic policy. China is a heavy investor in the US economy that's struggling through a recovery.”
Transcript by Newsy.
