China has sent out a stark message to President Obama, calling on him to cancel a planned meeting with the Dalai Lama — or face diplomatic consequences.
Mr. Obama is due to meet with the Tibetan spiritual head on Friday, CNN reported.
“By arranging a meeting between the president and the Dalai Lama, the U.S. will grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, CNN reported.
Mr. Obama has met with the Dalai Lama on previous occasions — in February of 2010 and in July 2011, CNN said. During those meetings, China issued similarly sharp rebukes of the White House.
China’s government views the Dalai Lama as a separatist who stirs up unrest in Tibet.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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