Dharamsala, November 13 – China has cautioned US President Barack Obama who began his first Asia trip in Japan over his planned meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang compared slavery in the US with “serfdom in Tibet” saying Obama should treat the Tibetan leader as a former as “a former head of a slave state.”
Qin Gang said yesterday at a press briefing that Obama should be more sympathetic to its contention it has brought development and prosperity to Tibet since 1959, according to the Associated Press
“In 1959, China abolished the feudal serf system just as President Lincoln freed the black slaves. So we hope President Obama more than any other foreign state leader can have a better understanding on China’s position on opposing the Dalai’s splitting activities,” Qin was quoted as saying by the AP.
China regularly accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama of trying to split Tibet from China despite the Tibetan leader’s repeated claims that he is only seeking genuine autonomy within the People’s Republic of China.
Responding to Qin’s comments, the Tibetan leader’s spokesman Tenzin Taklha called them “the usual accusations.
“China continues to accuse His Holiness of wanting to split the motherland. But His Holiness has been very clear in his position,” Tenzin Taklha said. “The whole world knows that the Dalai Lama is not seeking a separation. These are all baseless accusations.”
