Much to the continued consternation of the Chinese government, the world-beloved Dalai Lama continues to be received warmly by U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama.
The two Nobel Peace Prize winners spoke on issues concerning human rights and religious solidarity during their hourlong meeting in the Map Room of the White House, the Dalai Lama told reporters afterwards. Obama made no public statements about the content of their conversation.
However, in a statement released by the White House, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama “stated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China.”
The Dalai Lama has been in exile in India for decades for openly protesting China’s oppression of the Tibetan people. The news that Obama entertained the 74-year-old Buddhist monk caused considerable irritation within the communist government of China.
“China resolutely opposes the visit by the Dalai Lama to the United States, and resolutely opposes U.S. leaders having contact with the Dalai Lama,” said foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.
Nevertheless, the Tibetan spiritual leader, who won the Nobel Prize in 1957, said he appreciated Obama, the 2009 Nobel Prize winner, and his “commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government.” Last year, the Dalai Lama said China has turned Tibet into “hell on earth.” Obama has repeatedly asked the two sides to engage in fruitful dialogue.
News that envoys from the exiled Tibetan government and China were reopening talks was something that Obama “was pleased to hear about,” Gibbs said. –terry shropshire
Photo courtesy of White House photography.
