Bush set for talks with Dalai Lama amid Chinese anger

WASHINGTON – US President George W Bush prepared to host talks with the Dalai Lama yesterday, drawing fresh Chinese warnings that the meeting could seriously undermine bilateral relations.

Bush is scheduled to meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader at his White House residence rather than the office, apparently to avoid the full wrath of China – a move that did not stop Beijing from calling for the meeting to be cancelled. Bush is also scheduled to attend a ceremony at the US Capitol today, where the Dalai Lama is to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, a top US civilian award.It will be the first time a sitting US president will appear in public with the 72-year-old religious figure, who China considers a dangerous separatist.Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi vented his anger and called on Washington to cancel the meeting.”For the US Congress to take this action and the US leader to meet with the Dalai Lama is a severe violation of the norms of international relations,” Yang told reporters in Beijing.”They have severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered in China’s internal affairs.The Chinese side has many times made solemn representations on this,” he said.”We express our extreme dissatisfaction and strong opposition.We urge the US side to cancel these activities,” the minister added.Moving swiftly to show its displeasure, China sought to postpone a Berlin meeting – coincidentally also scheduled for today – among top officials from the five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany, aimed at discussing the Iranian nuclear crisis, a US State Department official said.”I think they (the Chinese) had indigestion …over the presence of certain spiritual leaders and an event in Congress,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.”It is extraneous to Iranian issues.”Beijing ‘just decided that today is not the date to have that meeting’ among diplomats from Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, the official said.”For us, the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and that is how he is being treated here,” added the official.The six powers were to have discussed calls to tighten UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.China and Russia have opposed harsh Security Council sanctions on Iran, which has refused to heed demands to suspend uranium enrichment.Tehran insists its atomic drive is entirely peaceful and solely aimed at generating energyNampa-AFPBush is also scheduled to attend a ceremony at the US Capitol today, where the Dalai Lama is to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, a top US civilian award.It will be the first time a sitting US president will appear in public with the 72-year-old religious figure, who China considers a dangerous separatist.Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi vented his anger and called on Washington to cancel the meeting.”For the US Congress to take this action and the US leader to meet with the Dalai Lama is a severe violation of the norms of international relations,” Yang told reporters in Beijing.”They have severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered in China’s internal affairs.The Chinese side has many times made solemn representations on this,” he said.”We express our extreme dissatisfaction and strong opposition.We urge the US side to cancel these activities,” the minister added.Moving swiftly to show its displeasure, China sought to postpone a Berlin meeting – coincidentally also scheduled for today – among top officials from the five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany, aimed at discussing the Iranian nuclear crisis, a US State Department official said.”I think they (the Chinese) had indigestion …over the presence of certain spiritual leaders and an event in Congress,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.”It is extraneous to Iranian issues.”Beijing ‘just decided that today is not the date to have that meeting’ among diplomats from Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, the official said.”For us, the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and that is how he is being treated here,” added the official.The six powers were to have discussed calls to tighten UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.China and Russia have opposed harsh Security Council sanctions on Iran, which has refused to heed demands to suspend uranium enrichment.Tehran insists its atomic drive is entirely peaceful and solely aimed at generating energy Nampa-AFP