By Tenzin Tsering
Dharamsala, June 1 – China has accused Denmark of “destructing the friendly cooperation between the two countries” after Danish Prime Minister Lars Loeekke Rasmussen and Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller met the Dalai Lama on Friday.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman QIn Gang expressed his government’s indignation saying that “China is strongly dissatisfied with and protests over the meetings of the Danish officials with the Dalai Lama”.
It alleged the two leaders of “severely damaging China’s core interest” with Denmark by meeting the Dalai Lama.
Denmark had consciously disregarded China’s warning to stay away from meeting with the Dalai Lama, and instead welcomed his visit putting the two countries friendly cooperation at stake, Qin added.
Beijing regularly warns politicians and leaders against hosting the Dalai Lama who it brands as a “splittist” seeking independence for Tibet from Chinese rule. However, the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since 1959, insists he is simply pushing for autonomy for the Himalayan region.
China warns world leaders and countries against “meddling in China’s internal affairs.” The latest big name in the list of being warned against meeting the 1989 Nobel laureate is President Barack Obama who was recently asked by China not to meet the Dalai Lama during the latter’s visit to the United States in October this year.
The Tibetan leader will be in Iceland tomorrow to address a public talk. This is the Tibetan leader’s first visit to the country. Visits to Netherlands and France in the next few days is also scheduled.
