China Condemns Obama-Dalai Meeting
Condemning President Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama, China has described it as ‘seriously damaging’ to the ties between the two world powers, reported ABC online.
Report said that the ceremonial event was largely low key but the very fact that a meeting took place at all was enough to upset Beijing, which has responded with vehemence.
“The US act amounted to serious interference in Chinese domestic affairs, and has seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and seriously damaged China-US relations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted as saying in a statement posted on the ministry website.
Zhaoxu said that the US should ‘immediately take effective steps to eradicate the maligning effects’ of the meeting, said report.
“Use concrete actions to promote the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations,” Ma was quoted as saying.
According to Chinese Xinhua news agency, the Chinese vice-foreign minister, Cui Tiankui, ‘lodged solemn representation’ with US Ambassador Jon Huntsman, said report.
The China National Association of International Studies’ director and veteran Beijing insider, Victor Gao, said a stern reaction from China was to be expected, report said.
“For the head of state of a major country like the United States to meet with his holiness the Dalai Lama in his official capacity is considered by Beijing as a major affront to the Chinese position,” he was quoted as saying.
