By Tenzin Dharpo
IMAGEIMAGE DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 19: As anticipated by many, China has issued a strongly worded statement objecting the ongoing visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to Mongolia who reached Ulaanbaatar yesterday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson at a regular press briefing accused its northern neighbor of jeopardizing bilateral ties by hosting the Tibetan leader.
FM spokesperson Geng Shuang yesterday reiterated Beijing’s stand of labeling the 81 year old Dalai Lama as a “splittist” who has, with the agenda to alienate Tibet from China, been carrying out divisive activities while visiting nations around the world.
He said, “We strongly demand that Mongolia, for the purpose of maintaining the general picture of a sound and steady development of bilateral ties, earnestly stick to its commitment on Tibet-related issues, does not allow the visit by the Dalai Lama and does not provide any form of support and convenience to the Dalai Lama clique”.
However, the host and organizer of the Mongolia schedule Davaapurev, a monk from Ulaanbaatar base Gandan monastery has responded by saying that the visit was “separate from politics and for religious purposes only.”
The four day schedule will see the Tibetan leader receive an honorary degree, partake in religious events and meet with academics and youth.
The Chinese government objection to the Dalai Lama’s visit to countries around the world is not a new phenomenon with the Chinese Foreign Ministry and consulates around the world keeping a close watch on his movement and schedule. The Dalai Lama recently mentioned that Chinese consulates get busy as soon as they hear he is visiting a particular country, jesting in part and also indicating that he has gotten used to the attention. The egalitarian leader as well as his private office has maintained that they do not want to cause inconvenience to any hosts.
