This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8223811.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Taiwan risks row over Dalai Lama Taiwan risks row over Dalai Lama
(41 minutes later)
Taiwan has approved a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in a move that could anger China.Taiwan has approved a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in a move that could anger China.
President Ma Ying-jeou has agreed to a request from the opposition to invite the Dalai Lama next week, to comfort victims of deadly Typhoon Morakot.President Ma Ying-jeou has agreed to a request from the opposition to invite the Dalai Lama next week, to comfort victims of deadly Typhoon Morakot.
China usually voices anger at nations that welcome the Dalai Lama, whom it views as a dangerous separatist.China usually voices anger at nations that welcome the Dalai Lama, whom it views as a dangerous separatist.
This trip is particularly controversial given that Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.This trip is particularly controversial given that Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.
But correspondents say China's criticism may be more muted than might otherwise have been expected because officials in Beijing are wary of playing into the hands of Taiwan's pro-independence opposition.But correspondents say China's criticism may be more muted than might otherwise have been expected because officials in Beijing are wary of playing into the hands of Taiwan's pro-independence opposition.
Praying for the deadPraying for the dead
President Ma held a five-hour meeting with security officials before he decided to allow the Dalai Lama's visit. Under Taiwan's previous administration, the Dalai Lama visited the island several times - most recently in 2001.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is due to arrive on 31 August and to stay for four days, with the focus of his trip being to comfort those affected by Typhoon Morakot, which struck in mid-August. But President Ma, who came to power in 2008, is much closer to China than his predecessor Chen Shui-bian.
President Ma has been criticised for his response to the typhoonPresident Ma has been criticised for his response to the typhoon
"We've... decided to let the Dalai Lama visit as he is coming here to pray for the dead victims, as well as the survivors," Mr Ma told reporters. Last year he refused to grant permission for a visit by the Dalai Lama, saying the timing was not right as his government was working to improve relations with Beijing.
An estimated 500 people were killed by severe flooding and mudslides caused by the typhoon - the worst Taiwan has suffered for 50 years. But the typhoon and its aftermath have left Mr Ma in a difficult position.
Mr Ma's administration has been criticised for its slow and inefficient response, and his popularity has plunged to a record low of 20% over his handling of the disaster. An estimated 500 people were killed by severe flooding and mudslides caused by the typhoon - the worst Taiwan has suffered for 50 years - and Mr Ma's administration has been criticised for its slow and inefficient response.
His popularity has plunged to a record low of 20% over his handling of the disaster.
According to the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei, the president needed to give the green light to the Dalai Lama's visit because he could not afford to hurt his and his party's image any further.According to the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei, the president needed to give the green light to the Dalai Lama's visit because he could not afford to hurt his and his party's image any further.
So after a five-hour meeting with security officials, he chose to allow the trip.
"We've... decided to let the Dalai Lama visit as he is coming here to pray for the dead victims, as well as the survivors," Mr Ma told reporters.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is due to arrive on 31 August and to stay for four days, with the focus of his trip being entirely to comfort those affected by the typhoon.
The Dalai Lama has long been eager to visit Taiwan, and is looking forward to the trip, his aide told Reuters news agency.The Dalai Lama has long been eager to visit Taiwan, and is looking forward to the trip, his aide told Reuters news agency.
Taiwan is home to a large exiled Tibetan community, and millions of Taiwanese are Buddhists.
Chinese reactionChinese reaction
Such a visit would normally trigger loud protests from Beijing, which considers Taiwan, along with Tibet, as an inseparable part of China.Such a visit would normally trigger loud protests from Beijing, which considers Taiwan, along with Tibet, as an inseparable part of China.
But it is unclear whether Beijing will react so strongly this time.But it is unclear whether Beijing will react so strongly this time.
The Chinese government has improved its relationship with Taiwan under Mr Ma, and considers his administration far easier to deal with than the island's previous pro-independence leadership. The Chinese government considers Mr Ma's administration far easier to deal with than the island's previous pro-independence leadership.
Correspondents say that if Chinese officials were to harshly criticise the visit, they might play into the hands of Taiwan's opposition. Correspondents say that if Chinese officials were to harshly criticise the visit, they might play into the hands of Taiwan's opposition by reducing Mr Ma's popularity even further.
A spokesman for Taiwan's Presidential Office refused to say whether Beijing had yet been informed of the decision, but he said "cross-strait relations will not be negatively affected by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit."A spokesman for Taiwan's Presidential Office refused to say whether Beijing had yet been informed of the decision, but he said "cross-strait relations will not be negatively affected by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit."