Obama to Meet with Dalai Lama

President Obama has announced that he is set in his decision to meet with the Dalai Lama, despite warnings from China that the meeting would put further strain on the relationship between the country and the US.

It is well known that the relationship between Tibet and China is incredibly strained, with Tibet seeking autonomy and China maintaining that Tibet is under their control, but the two entities have been in talks since 2002 regarding Tibet's status. In spite of these talks, China remains belligerent regarding the nation's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who they regard as a Separatist fugitive since he fled Tibet for India after a failed uprising in 1959.

The renowned monk had visited the US last year, but the President declined, intending to meet with him later. That time has come, as the Dalai Lama will likely meet with the President in Washington some time later this month.

The executive deputy minister of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department, Zhu Weiqun, expressed the Chinese government's stance on the issue: "If the US leader chooses to meet with the Dalai Lama at this time, it will certainly threaten trust and co-operation between China and the United States."

This clash of words follows disputes over trade, the US selling arms supplies to Taiwan, and internet censorship within China. Despite this, White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters, "The Dalai Lama is an internationally respected religious and cultural leader and the president will meet with him in that capacity."