‘Dalai-Obama meet to hamper US-Sino ties partly’

As Obama hosted the Dalai Lama despite China`s dissent, Jagannath P Panda tells Kamna Arora of Zeenews.com that it may not really hamper any ties.

US President Barack Obama hosted the Dalai Lama at the White House, completely defying China`s warning that his meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could harm already tensed ties.

The visit came at a time when Obama is grappling to secure China’s backing on key issues such as resolving North Korea’s nuclear impasse, imposing tougher sanctions on Iran and reaching a new global agreement on climate change.In an exclusive interview with Kamna Arora of Zeenews.com, Jagannath P Panda, an expert on Chinese affairs, discusses the Dalai Lama’s meet with Obama and its repercussions on Sino-US ties. Panda is an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Kamna: Why is China so upset with Barack Obama-Dalai Lama meet, keeping in mind the fact that all American Presidents, since 1990, have met with the Tibetan spiritual leader? Why does China seem more irritated about this meet than it has been earlier? Panda: Given the fact that the current Tibet movement is at a deciding point for its leadership succession, China has vehemently opposed the Dalai Lama’s visit to any part of the world. But Chinese opposition towards Dalai Lama’s trip to the US & his meeting with Obama is more than that this time. China is more irritated because of two reasons: (a) China’s expectation from Barack Obama is huge; (b) China expects a lot from its current discourse of Sino-US relations. Since the time Barack Obama came to power, China has tried to shape its ties with the US in a new direction. So, it is a deliberate Chinese strategy to really express their unhappiness and make the US feel that it is responsible in affecting or obstructing Sino-US relations. Kamna:: What led the US President to cancel his meet with the Dalai Lama in October 2009? Did he do that to appease China? Panda: Perhaps, yes. Looking at the evolving strategic and global politics, the US needs a co-operative China. To appease China, Barack Obama didn’t meet Dalai Lama in October 2009. More than that, the US’ policy has also been to test the Chinese mind from time-to-time. It was a strategic decision on the part of the US in October 2009 not to arrange the Obama-Dalai meeting rather than a personal choice of the US President himself. Kamna:: US’ arms sale to Taiwan, the Google spat and now the Dalai Lama visit mean the Beijing-Washington honeymoon under Obama’s leadership is over. Comment. Panda: The Sino-US relations are more complicated than what is really seen on the surface. True, issues like you mentioned would affect the evolving Sino-US relations. But then, the nature of the great power politics suggests that relationship between major powers are shaped not exactly by problematic issues; it is rather shaped by time, resources and geo-political calculus. Therefore, temporary factors like you mentioned will hamper their relationship to some extent, but not entirely. The Sino-US relationship is more than that. The trend of the global politics depends upon this relationship. So, it is premature to say that everything is lost between China and the US. Kamna:: Do you think it’s time for Obama to take a stronger stand with China on human rights? Panda: Maybe not. I don’t think that Obama or the US in that regard will have a stronger say on the issue of human rights with regards to China. It is an old issue which China has dealt with in the past with US and the rest of the world. The US realizes that and it needs to protect its relationship with China at the moment than really inviting unnecessary trouble.