Beijing angry that Martin plans to meet with Tibetan leader
BEIJING — China told Canada today it would be inappropriate for Prime Minister Paul Martin to meet the Dalai Lama because the exiled Tibetan leader is not just a religious figure.
The comment by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson appeared to be a response to Martin’s spirited defence Wednesday of his decision to meet the Dalai Lama, whom Martin called “a very important religious figure.”
Martin has decided to meet the Dalai Lama during the Tibetan leader’s April 18-May 5 visit to Canada. The decision has upset Beijing, which considers Tibet part of China and the Dalai Lama a champion of Tibetan independence.
The Dalai Lama “is not a simple religious figure,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kong Quan.
“Instead, he has been staging splittist (sic) activities as a political activist abroad.”
Chinese troops entered Tibet in 1951 to assert authority over a territory that had slipped in and out of China’s control over the centuries. Tibetans have traditionally revered Buddhist lamas as their leaders.
The Dalai Lama fled to India following an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. He now heads a government-in-exile in the mountain town of Dharmsala, India. China says he may return only as a Chinese citizen and demands that he renounce all notions of Tibetan independence.
“China and Canada’s relationship has been developing in all fields,” Kong said. “Against this background, we don’t think it’s appropriate for the Canadian government to receive the visit of the Dalai Lama, who is an activist and a separatist.”
Kong’s comments reinforced a statement earlier this week by the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, which criticized Martin’s announcement that he would become the first Canadian prime minister to meet with the Dalai Lama.
“We hope Canada, which has its own problem with Quebec, will understand our position,” the embassy said, referring to the separatist movement in the province.
On Wednesday, Martin vigorously defended his right to meet with the Dalai Lama.
“The Dalai Lama is a very important religious figure and I am looking forward to meeting with him,” Martin said while on a tour of New Brunswick. “While I understand and respect China’s concerns in this area, I am the prime minister of Canada and I will decide who I meet with and who I don’t meet with.”
“I am meeting with him as a spiritual leader and I believe it is my responsibility as the prime minister of Canada to meet with people of the significance of the Dalai Lama,” Martin said.
The meeting, set for April 23, is planned to be a muted event involving not only Martin and Dalai Lama but a group of community and spiritual leaders, the prime minister’s office said Wednesday. It won’t be held at any official government site but instead at the home of Rev. Marcel Gervais, Roman Catholic archbishop of Ottawa.
“It’s a spiritual meeting,” said Justin Kingsley, a press secretary for the prime minister.
