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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Dalai Lama to meet Obama amid row | Dalai Lama to meet Obama amid row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is due to meet US President Barack Obama at the White House, despite objections from China. | Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is due to meet US President Barack Obama at the White House, despite objections from China. |
| The meeting comes amid tension in US-Sino relations, with disputes simmering over US arms sales to Taiwan, claims of Chinese cyber-spying and trade deals. | The meeting comes amid tension in US-Sino relations, with disputes simmering over US arms sales to Taiwan, claims of Chinese cyber-spying and trade deals. |
| China, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist, has warned the meeting will undermine relations. | China, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist, has warned the meeting will undermine relations. |
| The US is keeping formalities low-key and has downplayed China's concerns. | The US is keeping formalities low-key and has downplayed China's concerns. |
| MARDELL'S AMERICA The Obama administration appears to be taking the reverse approach to that of the last two US presidents Read Mark's thoughts in full | MARDELL'S AMERICA The Obama administration appears to be taking the reverse approach to that of the last two US presidents Read Mark's thoughts in full |
| On his arrival in Washington on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama headed to a hotel for a ceremony to mark the Losar new year with fellow Tibetans. | On his arrival in Washington on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama headed to a hotel for a ceremony to mark the Losar new year with fellow Tibetans. |
| The Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gayari, said that it was "important in itself that the meeting is happening". | The Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gayari, said that it was "important in itself that the meeting is happening". |
| He said that the Dalai Lama would be asking the US president to "help find a solution in resolving the Tibet issue that would be mutually beneficial to the Tibetan and Chinese people". | He said that the Dalai Lama would be asking the US president to "help find a solution in resolving the Tibet issue that would be mutually beneficial to the Tibetan and Chinese people". |
| Sensitive issues | Sensitive issues |
| White House spokesman Robert Gibbs last week defended the decision to receive the Dalai Lama, saying he was "an internationally respected religious leader". | White House spokesman Robert Gibbs last week defended the decision to receive the Dalai Lama, saying he was "an internationally respected religious leader". |
| US-CHINA TENSIONS Google - China denies being behind an alleged cyber attack on the US search engineTaiwan - a US sale of $6.4bn (£4bn) of defensive arms to Taiwan has angered BeijingTibet - China says a US meeting with the Dalai Lama would "undermine relations"Trade - rows over imports and exports of meat, media, car tyres and raw materialsIran - the US fears China will not back tougher sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programmeClimate - the US is disappointed at China's tough position at the Copenhagen Summit Relations hit a bad patch The US-China power balance | US-CHINA TENSIONS Google - China denies being behind an alleged cyber attack on the US search engineTaiwan - a US sale of $6.4bn (£4bn) of defensive arms to Taiwan has angered BeijingTibet - China says a US meeting with the Dalai Lama would "undermine relations"Trade - rows over imports and exports of meat, media, car tyres and raw materialsIran - the US fears China will not back tougher sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programmeClimate - the US is disappointed at China's tough position at the Copenhagen Summit Relations hit a bad patch The US-China power balance |
| He said the Sino-US relationship was mature enough to disagree while finding common ground on international issues. | He said the Sino-US relationship was mature enough to disagree while finding common ground on international issues. |
| Mr Obama avoided meeting the Dalai Lama in Washington last year ahead of his own first state visit to Beijing. | Mr Obama avoided meeting the Dalai Lama in Washington last year ahead of his own first state visit to Beijing. |
| Thursday's meeting will take place in the White House Map Room, not the symbolic surroundings of the Oval Office, where Mr Obama normally meets foreign leaders and VIP guests. | Thursday's meeting will take place in the White House Map Room, not the symbolic surroundings of the Oval Office, where Mr Obama normally meets foreign leaders and VIP guests. |
| The Dalai Lama will also meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department. | The Dalai Lama will also meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department. |
| Citing the "high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues", China's foreign ministry had urged the US to call off the visit to "avoid any more damage to Sino-US relations". | Citing the "high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues", China's foreign ministry had urged the US to call off the visit to "avoid any more damage to Sino-US relations". |
| China, which took over Tibet in 1950, considers the Dalai Lama a separatist and tries to isolate the spiritual leader by asking foreign leaders not to see him. | China, which took over Tibet in 1950, considers the Dalai Lama a separatist and tries to isolate the spiritual leader by asking foreign leaders not to see him. |
| The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has since been living in India. | The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has since been living in India. |
| 'Cyber attack' | 'Cyber attack' |
| The White House meeting comes soon after China expressed strong displeasure at the sale of $6.4bn (£4bn) worth of US weapons to Taiwan. | The White House meeting comes soon after China expressed strong displeasure at the sale of $6.4bn (£4bn) worth of US weapons to Taiwan. |
| George W Bush appeared in public with the Dalai Lama in 2007 | George W Bush appeared in public with the Dalai Lama in 2007 |
| Beijing regards Taiwan as a Chinese territory to be reunified by force if necessary. | Beijing regards Taiwan as a Chinese territory to be reunified by force if necessary. |
| Another source of tension is internet censorship, following claims by the search giant Google that it had suffered a "sophisticated and targeted" cyber attack from inside China. | Another source of tension is internet censorship, following claims by the search giant Google that it had suffered a "sophisticated and targeted" cyber attack from inside China. |
| Mr Obama has also given signs of getting tougher on the long-standing dispute over China's currency, which some traders feel is kept artificially weak. | Mr Obama has also given signs of getting tougher on the long-standing dispute over China's currency, which some traders feel is kept artificially weak. |
| However, the US wants Chinese support in the United Nations regarding sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programmes. | However, the US wants Chinese support in the United Nations regarding sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programmes. |
| This is not the first time that China has been angered by US support for the Dalai Lama. | This is not the first time that China has been angered by US support for the Dalai Lama. |
| Beijing was infuriated in 2007 when President George W Bush both received the Dalai Lama at the White House and attended a ceremony at which he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal - the top US civilian honour. | Beijing was infuriated in 2007 when President George W Bush both received the Dalai Lama at the White House and attended a ceremony at which he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal - the top US civilian honour. |
| It was the first time a sitting US president had appeared in public with the exiled Tibetan leader. | It was the first time a sitting US president had appeared in public with the exiled Tibetan leader. |
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