Dalai Lama's visit undermines ties
- Source: Global Times
- [03:05 February 20 2010]
- Comments
The Chinese and US diplomatic circle and media are having an other war of words after US Pres-ident Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama in the White House two days ago.
Some Western media interpreted the meeting as a counterattack by Obama after a series of diplomatic setbacks last year with China. Since the start of the year, the seeming rapport between the world's two most important countries has given way to high tension.
China has reason to feel infuriated by Obama's decision, even though the White House claimed the meeting was personal, and it took place in the Map Room instead of the more symbolic Oval Office.
Three months ago when Obama visited China, the US stressed the ne cessity of the two sides respecting each other's sovereignty and territorial integ rity, and not sup porting any forces opposing such principles.
The Dalai Lama, a spiritual figure well-regarded by many in the West, staunchly advocates Tibetan in dependence.
Moreover, both China and the US have repeatedly openly expressed an intent to build cooperative bilateral relations. "Partnership between China and the US" is a frequently heard say ing uttered by American officials from the president to cabinet officials.
But the US is changing its stance quickly. American media defended the meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama, saying the US president has the right to meet anyone he wants. But they have forgot ten common sense: If you and the other party involved are enemies, you can do whatever you want.
But when you constantly speak of making friends, you have an obligation to act with restraint, and not bring harm to the other party.
The US is trying to keep an advan tage by befriending China while also charting its own diplomatic course.
Since George H.W. Bush met with the Dalai Lama in 1991, every US presi dent since has followed suit during his term. Obama surely will not be the last.
Given the strong religious force in the US, and the presence of certain members of US Congress who seek to upset Sino-US relations by honoring the Dalai Lama, the issue will continue to be a shadow over the smooth devel opment of bilateral relations, perhaps for a long while.
Each time the issue emerges, the damage it brings to Sino-US relations and mutual trust takes time and extra efforts from both sides to fix.
When Dalai Lama smiled to the press corps outside the White House, the separatists benefited. The lavish media coverage will give Dalai Lama the worldwide recognition he seeks and whitewash the truth of Tibetan history under his rule.
It's time to remove the Dalai Lama issue from China-US relations.
