Obama to Visit the Dalai Lama Despite Chinese Interest
February 4, 2010 | Jonathan Wu
The Obama administration recently announced that they would stand firm on having President Obama meet with the Dalai Lama even though China warned that such a move would place Sino-American relations in a precarious position.
The Chinese Government responded to this decision from the White House by saying they “resolutely oppose” any meetings between the Dalai Lama and international leaders.
Ma Zhaoxu, a foreign ministry spokesman said, “We urge the US side to clearly recognize the high sensitivity of the Tibet issue and handle related issues carefully and appropriately to avoid causing more harm to Sino-US ties.”
Even though such a stance by White House clearly defies Chinese interests, President Obama stated that he remained committed to “building a positive, comprehensive and cooperative relationship with China.”
China’s attempt to convince President Obama to not visit the Dalai Lama is part a political scheme that began in 1950 when China took over Tibet. Since the take over, China has identified the Dalai Lama as a separatist. A failed uprising in 1959, which resulted in the Dalai Lama fleeing Tibet helped further concrete that view. Ever since, China has been trying their best to isolate the Dalai Lama by bullying foreign leaders into not seeing him.
