WASHINGTON — President Bush met privately with the Dalai Lama on Tuesday, despite earlier warnings from China that the honors being accorded the long-exiled Buddhist leader this week by Congress and the White House would harm U.S.-Chinese relations.
The strong protest, voiced by China’s Foreign Ministry and the Communist Party secretary for Tibet, underlined China’s determination to prevent the exiled Tibetan leader from winning global support for his drive to gain autonomy for the mountainous region.
After his meeting with Bush, the Dalai Lama said the president had asked him about the situation in Tibet, and, “accordingly, I explained.”
He laughed off the Chinese government’s anger at the warm welcome he is receiving at the White House and on Capitol Hill.
“That always happens,” he said of the Chinese reaction.
The Dalai Lama also expressed his solidarity with the Buddhist monks in Myanmar battling the military junta that runs that country. He said he expressed his appreciation for first lady Laura Bush’s public support of the monks and opposition to the junta’s treatment of its citizens.
The Dalai Lama, a Nobel laureate based in India, will receive a Congressional Gold Medal today for what Congress called “his many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights and religious understanding.”
Bush will present the medal, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president has met in public with the Tibetan spiritual and political leader. The Dalai Lama will address the public this afternoon at the Capitol.
The meeting between Bush and the Dalai Lama lasted about 30 minutes in the private residence of the White House. Administration staff would not release details of the discussion or a photo of the meeting, in deference to Chinese sensibilities.
“We in no way want to stir the pot and make China feel we are sticking a stick in their eye,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said. “This might be one thing we can do, but I don’t believe it’s going to soothe the feelings of the Chinese.”
Human rights Japan withdraws aid for Myanmar. 18A
