November 10, 2005

Our friends the Chinese

President Bush met with His Holiness the Dali Lama and China objected. MyWay/Reuters has the story:
Bush meets Dalai Lama, ignoring China's objections
President George W. Bush met at the White House on Wednesday with the Dalai Lama, exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, ignoring objections from China 10 days before he makes an official visit to Beijing.

The private meeting with the president and the first lady came one day after the Bush administration named China a serious violator of religious freedom in a report to Congress.

"We've made our views very clear when it comes to our support for religious freedom... And we will continue to speak out on those issues," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

The Chinese government opposed Bush's meeting with the Dalai Lama.

"The Dalai Lama is not a mere religious figure. He is a political refugee who has conducted activities splitting China and undermining national unity," said Chu Maoming, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

"We are opposed to any invitation by any country extended to him. We are also opposed to any meetings with him."

Wednesday's meeting was Bush's third with the Dalai Lama. Next week Bush is due to visit Beijing and hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Good on President Bush -- the meeting with Hu Jintao should be interesting considering China's military build-up and focus on Taiwan. Posted by DaveH at November 10, 2005 1:52 PM
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