BEIJING – China on Friday protested President Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying Washington had interfered in Chinese domestic affairs and demanding the U.S. take steps to improve ties.
The meeting Thursday at the White House was seen as another test of rocky ties between Beijing and Washington, strained in recent weeks by issues from Taiwan arms sales to cyber spying allegations.
However, the language of the protest issued by the Foreign Ministry was relatively constrained, a reflection of the White House’s low-key treatment of the meeting with the exiled Tibetan leader and Beijing’s own desire to maintain healthy China-U.S. relations. The meeting was in the White House’s Map Room, a lower-profile venue than the Oval Office.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said China expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition,” to the meeting.
“The Chinese side demands that the U.S. side seriously consider China’s stance, immediately adopt measures to wipe out the baneful impact and stop conniving and supporting anti-China separatist forces that seek Tibet independence,” said the statement, posted on the ministry’s Web site.