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Obama to host Dalai Lama at White House Obama's meeting with Dalai Lama irks China
(about 17 hours later)
US President Barack Obama will meet exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday, US officials say. US President Barack Obama has met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, US officials say.
China has urged the US to cancel the meeting, saying it will "seriously impair China-US relations". The US leader vowed "strong support" for the protection of Tibetans' human rights in China during the encounter.
China describes the Dalai Lama as a separatist, while the spiritual leader says he only advocates greater autonomy for Tibet, not independence. China had urged the US to cancel the meeting, saying it would "seriously impair China-US relations".
Officials say the US does not support Tibetan independence but is concerned about human rights in China. Beijing described the Dalai Lama as a separatist, while the spiritual leader said he only advocates greater autonomy for Tibet, not independence.
The two men last met in 2011, in talks that angered China. During their meeting in the White House Map Room, Mr Obama and the Dalai Lama reportedly said they hoped talks would resume between Beijing and the Tibetan spiritual leader's representatives.
Tibet is governed as an autonomous region in China. The two men last met in 2011, in talks that angered China. Tibet is governed as an autonomous region in China.
China has been widely accused of repressing political and religious freedoms in Tibet. Beijing rejects this and says economic development has improved Tibetans' lives.China has been widely accused of repressing political and religious freedoms in Tibet. Beijing rejects this and says economic development has improved Tibetans' lives.
'Respected leader' 'Firm opposition'
Mr Obama will host the Dalai Lama in a private meeting in the White House Map Room on Friday morning, US officials said. Chinese response to the meeting was swift, with the nation's Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui summoning US charge d'affaires Daniel Kritenbrink to protest against the encounter.
Mr Obama traditionally hosts foreign leaders in the Oval Office, so the decision to use the Map Room is viewed as an attempt to give the visit a lower-profile. "China expresses strong indignation and firm opposition," Mr Zhang said, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said Mr Obama would meet the Dalai Lama "in his capacity as an internationally respected religious and cultural leader". "The Tibetan issue is the domestic affair of China, and the United States bears no right to interfere," he added. "Such a move will gravely sabotage China-US co-operation and relations, and will definitely undermine its own interests."
Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, earlier said Mr Obama met the Dalai Lama "in his capacity as an internationally respected religious and cultural leader".
"We do not support Tibetan independence," she said, adding that the US "strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China."We do not support Tibetan independence," she said, adding that the US "strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China.
"We are concerned about continuing tensions and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas of China.""We are concerned about continuing tensions and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas of China."
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that Beijing was "firmly opposed" to the meeting.
"The US leader's meeting with the Dalai is a gross interference in China's internal affairs, a severe violation of codes of international relations and will seriously impair China-US relations," she said in a statement.
China had "already lodged solemn representations" with the US on the matter, she added.
In recent years more than 110 ethnic Tibetans - mostly young monks and nuns living in areas outside Tibet - have set themselves on fire in apparent protest against Beijing's rule.In recent years more than 110 ethnic Tibetans - mostly young monks and nuns living in areas outside Tibet - have set themselves on fire in apparent protest against Beijing's rule.
The Chinese government accuses the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the protests, a charge he strongly rejects.The Chinese government accuses the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the protests, a charge he strongly rejects.
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, after Chinese troops crushed an attempted uprising in Tibet.The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, after Chinese troops crushed an attempted uprising in Tibet.
He now advocates a "middle way" with Beijing, seeking autonomy but not independence.He now advocates a "middle way" with Beijing, seeking autonomy but not independence.