A senior envoy for US President George W. Bush met with Beijing’s ambassador in Washington to express the government’s “deep concerns” over China’s crackdown in Tibet, the White House said Monday.
Ambassador James Jeffrey, a deputy national security advisor, met with Zhou Wenzhong at the weekend, Jeffrey “expressed our deep concerns over the widespread security crackdown in Tibet,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
“He urged them to be more peaceful, to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, which is something we have stressed before, so we continue to have conversations with them,” she said.
Bush has yet to publicly comment on the deadly protests in Tibet and neighboring regions since they erupted March 10 on the anniversary of a 1959 failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
Tibetan sources say 130 people have been killed.
Tibet remains a point of contention in the delicate ties between China and the United States, who are juggling multiple diplomatic interests as well as expanding economic ties.
The White House has indicated that the unrest in Tibet will not dissuade Bush from attending the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, but in making the trip he will be able to speak his mind to President Hu Jintao.
