Chinese Communist Party (CCP) throws temper tantrums over David
am 16.05.2012 09:57:33 von Satish
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http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/15/dalai-lama-david-cameron-china-p=
rotest_n_1517864.html
China Rebukes David Cameron For Meeting Dalai Lama
China today protested about Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to
meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to London yesterday.
Britain's ambassador in Beijing, Sebastian Wood, was summoned to the
Foreign Ministry to receive a rebuke from China's Vice Foreign
Minister Song Tao.
Mr Song said the meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader
amounted to serious interference in China's internal affairs.
Mr Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg met the Dalai Lama
privately yesterday at St Paul's Cathedral, where he was receiving the
=A31.1 million Templeton Prize for his work affirming the spiritual
dimension of life. He donated the bulk of the prize to Save the
Children to support its work in India.
China's Foreign Ministry said Mr Song told Mr Wood British leaders
should consider the "serious consequences" of meeting the Dalai Lama,
who is regarded as a separatist by Beijing.
The meeting "seriously interfered with China's internal affairs,
undermined China's core interests, and hurt the feelings of the
Chinese people", said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Mr Song urged Britain to take "practical actions to correct the
error".
Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: "The Dalai Lama is an important
religious figure.
"We don't want to see our relationship with China disrupted by the
visit of the Dalai Lama.
"The Dalai Lama travels all over the world and has visited the UK
several times in the past, and I believe that former prime ministers
also met with him when they were in office."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "British ministers believe that who
they see is a matter for them.
"The Dalai Lama is an important religious figure and the Prime
Minister expects to meet important religious figures from time to
time.
"If they choose to see someone, it does not necessarily indicate they
support that individual's viewpoint. Ministers place value on
dialogue, discussion and gathering a wide range of viewpoints on
issues of importance."
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