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| Dalai Lama meets Obama amid row | Dalai Lama meets Obama amid row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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, said the meeting was a "violation of US policy on Tibet". | China, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist, said the meeting was a "violation of US policy on Tibet". |
| The US downplayed China's concerns but kept the meeting low key. | 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. | 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' | '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. | 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 real test of US-China relations will not be the Dalai Lama but what happens on sanctions against Iran href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2010/02/the_seesaw_of_diplomacy.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full | |
| Mr Obama praised the Dalai Lama's commitment to nonviolence and "his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government," the spokesman said. | Mr Obama praised the Dalai Lama's commitment to nonviolence and "his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government," the spokesman said. |
| 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. | 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 he told Mr Obama of his admiration for the US as a "champion of democracy, freedom, human values" and creativity. | He said he told Mr Obama of his admiration for the US as a "champion of democracy, freedom, human values" and creativity. |
| The White House had defended the decision to receive the Dalai Lama, saying he was "an internationally respected religious leader". | 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. | Mr Obama avoided meeting the Dalai Lama in Washington last year ahead of his own first state visit to Beijing. |
| 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 meeting | 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 meeting |
| China's foreign ministry quickly condemned the meeting. | China's foreign ministry quickly condemned the meeting. |
| Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying: "The US act grossly violated the norms governing international relations. | Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying: "The US act grossly violated the norms governing international relations. |
| "It also went against the repeated commitments by the US government that the US recognises Tibet as part of China and gives no support to 'Tibet independence'." | "It also went against the repeated commitments by the US government that the US recognises Tibet as part of China and gives no support to 'Tibet independence'." |
| The foreign ministry had warned the US to call off the Dalai Lama's visit to "avoid any more damage to Sino-US relations". | The foreign ministry had warned the US to call off the Dalai Lama's visit to "avoid any more damage to Sino-US relations". |
| It said it now expected Mr Obama to take steps to put relations back on track. | It said it now expected Mr Obama to take steps to put relations back on track. |
| China, which sent troops into Tibet in 1950 but has long claimed it as its own, considers the Dalai Lama a separatist. Beijing tries to isolate the spiritual leader by asking foreign leaders not to see him. | China, which sent troops into Tibet in 1950 but has long claimed it as its own, considers the Dalai Lama a separatist. Beijing 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. |
| 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. | 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 Dalia Lama has met every sitting US president since 1991, with each visit drawing Chinese ire. | The Dalia Lama has met every sitting US president since 1991, with each visit drawing Chinese ire. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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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