By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, July 27: China has said countries should respect China’s core interests as Botswana confirmed the upcoming visit of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in August despite Beijing’s constant protest and warning.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang yesterday said, “We urge countries concerned to respect China’s core interests and make the right decisions.”
China has been putting pressure on countries whom they share businesses through their economic clout. However, the Botswana government said that they would allow the Dalai Lama to visit the African nation as a ‘foreign dignitary’. Stating the visit as ‘purely private’, Botswana Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi in her response to a parliamentary question said, “The President (Ian Khama) will extend basic courtesies for Dalai Lama and the government protocol office is charged with the responsibility to facilitate foreign dignitaries, which includes Dalai Lama.”
Reminding China of their foreign policy’s core principle of ‘non-interference in the international affairs of other countries’, the foreign minister also said, “We therefore expect China to respect our sovereign decision on this matter.”
President Khama is expected to meet the exile Tibetan leader, which has infuriated Beijing.
The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit the African nation to participate in a 3-day Mind & Life Dialogue on Botho/Ubuntu from August 17-19. He will also have a public talk organized by the Mind & Life Institute to be held at the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Center on August 19.
Botswana’s neighbor South Africa repeatedly denied visa to the Nobel Peace Laureate to appease Beijing and to gain favors from China. The Dalai Lama was denied visa to attend the 14th world summit of Nobel peace laureates in 2014 in South Africa and consequently the summit was cancelled. The denial of visa also drew heavy criticism from archbishop Desmond Tutu and others.
