China expresses "strong indignation, firm opposition" against Obama-Dalai Lama meeting

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui on Friday night summoned Daniel Kritenbrink, charge d'affaires of U.S. embassy in China, to lodge solemn representations for U.S. President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama regardless of China's strong opposition. According to Zhang, such a wrong move gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, seriously violated the U.S. commitment of not supporting the "Tibet independence", gravely violated basic norms governing the international relations, and seriously undermined the China-U.S. relations. "China expresses strong indignation and firm opposition," Zhang said. Tibet is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, Zhang said. "The Tibetan issue is the domestic affair of China and the United States bears no right to interfere," he stressed. The contradictions between the Chinese side and the Dalai Lama is neither an ethnic issue nor religious and human rights issues, but an important issue concerning the principles of maintaining China's unification while opposing secession, he said. China firmly opposes any foreign country to allow the Dalai Lama's visit and opposes any foreign dignitaries to meet with the Dalai Lama by any form, he stressed. "Nobody can shake the will and determination of the Chinese government and people to oppose outside interference and to safeguard the national sovereignty and unification," he said. "The United States, on the one hand, recognizes that Tibet is part of China and has agreed not to support 'Tibet independence', while on the other hand arranged the meeting between its leader and the Dalai Lama," he said, calling the Dalai Lama "chief head of the secessionist group seeking 'Tibet independence.'" "Such a move will gravely sabotage China-U.S. cooperation and relations, and will definitely undermine its own interests," he said. "The key to ensure the healthy and steady growth of China-U.S. relations is to respect the other's core interests and major concerns," he said. He urged the United States to seriously take into consideration of China's solemn stance and observe its commitments of recognizing Tibet as part of China and opposing "Tibet independence." Moreover, he demanded the United States to immediately take concrete actions to offset negative influence, stop interfering into China's internal affairs by making use of Tibet-related issues, stop conniving and supporting anti-China secessionist activities made by the Dalai Lama and his followers. "The United States must take concrete actions to regain trust of the Chinese government and people," he said. On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China has time and again expressed its serious concern over the Dalai Lama's visit to the United State for a period of time. "The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long engaged in anti-China secessionist activities in the name of religion," he said. He urged the United States not to connive and support anti-China secessionist forces seeking "Tibet independence," in order to avoid further damage to the China-U.S. relations.