China Expert’s Perspective on Obama-His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meeting

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China Expert’s Perspective on Obama-His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meeting  [Thursday, 25 February 2010, 2:11 p.m.] Dharamshala: The meeting between US President Barack Obama and His Holiness the Dalai Lama sends a message from the international community that the Tibetan issue is not something to be manipulated by the Chinese government free from the scrutiny of the rest of the world, said Chin Jin, an M.A. graduate of the University of Western Sydney and Chair of the Federation For A Democratic China, Australia.  “The Tibetan issue and the sale of arms to Taiwan are what the Chinese government refers to as domestic affairs in which it spares no effort to prevent the international community from meddling. However, the international community does not regard these as merely domestic as claimed by China. These issues as highly controversial in the court of world opinion,”  Jin wrote in an article on On Line Opinion. “A Chinese government spokesperson suggested that the meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama would severely harm the feelings of the Chinese people. In fact, the majority of the Chinese populace is not aware of, concerned with, nor cares about this meeting,” Jin said. “The purpose of the Chinese government in admonishing the White House repeatedly before the meeting, saying “this will harm the feelings of Chinese people and will undermine the interests of China”, and so on, was to abort the meeting before it took place. From President Obama’s point of view, however, he cannot change the tradition for US Presidents to meet the Dalai Lama, one which has lasted for 20 years,” he said. During his meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House on 18 February, President Obama reaffirmed his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans. He encouraged His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences.  President Obama and His Holiness agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China.Truth will prevail “The Chinese government blames the Dalai Lama as a separatist, deliberately misinterpreting the Dalai Lama’s advocacy for autonomy as if he was seeking independence. This is obviously a distortion of the facts and will hardly win international approval, although the government can indoctrinate the Chinese populace domestically through partisan propaganda. After all, this will not withstand the history, and the truth will speak louder than the propaganda sooner or later,” Chin Jin said.  Jin said many world leaders, including prime ministers and presidents, met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama despite strong protests from the Chinese government. He described the Chinese government’s action as “self-defeating” and “diplomatic stupidity”.  He said “in the spirit of building a harmonious society the Hu Jintao government should deal with Tibetan issue without being overwheening for fear of the reality. Tibet is problematic. Beijing needs courage and wisdom rather outrage and mightiness. Beijing should evaluate the situation and seize the opportunity to have the Tibetan issue finalised once and for all while the Tibetan spiritual leader, who is greatly esteemed in the world, is still alive. This will set an example for the resolution of the issues of other ethnic regions in China as well as Taiwan.”