China Opposes Dalai Lama's Visit To Mongolia
(Reuters | Beijing | November 4, 2002)
China denounced the Dalai Lama's visit to neighbouring Mongolia on Monday, hours before the Tibetan spiritual leader was due to fly into the predominantly Buddhist country to meet followers.
"The Dalai Lama is not simply a religious figure, but is a political exile who has engaged in activities to split the motherland," the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Reuters in a faxed response to questions. "The Chinese side is resolutely opposed to him going to any country in whatever capacity to engage in political activities aimed at splitting China or damaging its ethnic unity," it said.
The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against China, has visited Mongolia four times. He is due to fly into the Mongolian capital, Ulan Bator, after a stopover in Japan.
A previous attempt to visit Mongolia was cancelled last year when Russia refused to issue a transit visa to avoid offending Beijing. There was no word on whether the Dalai Lama was scheduled to meet Mongolian officials but the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing opposed any foreign officials meeting him.
The visit comes amid signs that strained relations between the Dalai Lama and Beijing may be thawing after a small delegation from the spiritual leader visited Beijing and the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, for the first time in years in September.
Several countries have denied access to the Dalai Lama, due to pressure from China. He was banned from visiting South Africa for the Earth Summit that began in late September. The Dalai Lama went to Australia in May to hold teaching seminars, but did not meet Prime Minister John Howard or opposition leader Simon Crean.
Friends of Tibet (INDIA),
PO Box 16674, Bombay 400050
www.friendsoftibet.org