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Dalai Lama meets Obama amid row Dalai Lama meets Obama amid row
(about 4 hours later)
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is meeting US President Barack Obama at the White House, despite objections from China. US President Barack Obama has expressed his support for Tibetan rights in talks held at the White House with the Dalai Lama 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, had warned the meeting would undermine relations.
The US is keeping formalities low-key and has downplayed China's concerns. The US downplayed China's concerns but kept the meeting low-key.
The closed talks were held at the White House's Map Room instead of the more official Oval Office, in an attempt to signal to China that it was a private, not a political meeting.
'Champion of democracy'
Afterwards, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president expressed his "strong support" for Tibetan identity and the protection of Tibetans' human rights in China.
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 fullMARDELL'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. Mr Obama praised the Dalai Lama's commitment to nonviolence and "his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government," the spokesman said.
The Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gayari, said that it was "important in itself that the meeting is happening". Despite American attempts to keep the visit low-profile, the Dalai Lama spoke to reporters immediately outside the West Wing of the White House in comments that were broadcast live on international television.
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 he told Mr Obama of his admiration for the US as a "champion of democracy, freedom, human values" and creativity.
Sensitive issues The White House had defended the decision to receive the Dalai Lama, saying he was "an internationally respected religious leader". Mr Obama avoided meeting the Dalai Lama in Washington last year ahead of his own first state visit to Beijing.
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 Your views on the meetingUS-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 Your views on the meeting
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.
Thursday's meeting is taking 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.
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' Relations between the US and China have become frayed in recent months with US arms sales to Taiwan, a row over internet censorship and US criticisms that China holds its currency artificially weak to boost its exports.
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 Dalia Lama has met every sitting US president since 1991, with each visit drawing Chinese ire.
George W Bush appeared in public with the Dalai Lama in 2007 But George W Bush's meeting with the Dalai Lama in 2007 was the first time a sitting US president had appeared in public with the exiled Tibetan leader.
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.
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.
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.
It was the first time a sitting US president had appeared in public with the exiled Tibetan leader.
Are you in China? What do you think of the meeting between Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama? Will it undermine US - China relations? Send us your views using the form below.Are you in China? What do you think of the meeting between Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama? Will it undermine US - China relations? Send us your views using the form below.
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