Beijing: China urged the United States on Friday to immediately cancel plans for President Barack Obama to meet with the Dalai Lama next week, warning the move could further hurt ties.
The meeting is likely to enflame tensions between China and the United States, already strained over disputes over trade issues and U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu issued the remarks hours after Washington announced Obama would meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader at the White House on Feb. 18.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence, which the Dalai Lama denies, and believes that shunning the exiled Tibetan monk should be a basic principle of international relations. Obama has been under intense pressure to meet with the Dalai Lama after putting off a meeting in October.
"We urge the U.S. side to fully understand the high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, honor its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and opposing 'Tibet independence,'" Ma said.
The U.S. should cancel the meeting "so as not to cause further damage to Sino-U.S. relations," Ma said in a statement. Ma did not specify what consequences would arise from such a meeting. Chinese President Hu Jintao may possibly visit Washington in April.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama looked forward to an "engaging and constructive dialogue" with the Dalai Lama.
Gibbs said the United States and China had a mature relationship that could withstand differences on some issues
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 12, 2010, 10:40