Of all the overbearing, petulant, interfering international requests to ever to cross the Pacific Ocean, this one comes close to taking the cake. The Chinese Communist Party (a.k.a, the government) is throwing yet another of its little hissyfits, trying to bully foreigners and tell them with whom they may or may not associate. The offender? The Dalai Lama:
China's Foreign Ministry warned U.S. officials on Thursday not to meet with visiting exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying it hoped Washington "appropriately dealt" with Tibet-related issues.
China reviles the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Dalai Lama, saying he supports the use of violence to establish an independent Tibet. He strongly denies either accusation, insisting he seeks only true autonomy for the remote region.
The Dalai Lama is currently visiting the United States and is due to give a public talk in Washington on Saturday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing's position on the Dalai Lama's foreign visits was clear.
"We oppose the underhand visits of the Dalai Lama which he uses to engage in activities to split the motherland," Hong told a regular news briefing.
"At the same time, we also oppose any foreign government or politicians supporting or abetting in such activities by the Dalai Lama," he added.
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Hey, I have an idea - how about you keep your speech/press/religious-freedom crushing policies to yourself? Please and thank you.
To his credit, President Obama welcomed and shook hands with the Dalai Lama last year, rousing the ire of the Chinese Communists. But then, Obama also shook hands and held a state dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao early this year. So, nevermind.
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