Beijing, May 21 – China today lashed out at the US for interfering in the country’s internal affairs by making use of the Tibet issue and ruled out resumption of dialogue with the exiled Dalai Lama unless he “abandoned” his pro-independence stance.
The Chinese reaction came in response to the US recently submitting to the Congress a presidential report on the Tibet issue, expressing the hope that the Chinese government would resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled religious leader, as soon as possible.
On the presidential report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said as is known to all, Tibet is part of China and the Tibet issue is an internal affair of China.
“The presidential report required by its domestic legislature made imprudent remarks on Tibetan affairs, and it constituted a violation of the principles of international relations and the three joint communiques between the two countries as well as interference in China’s internal affairs.
“China strongly opposed such intervention, Zhang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.
“Only when he (Dalai) really abandons his support for ‘Tibetan independence’, stops separatist activities aimed at spltting China, declares in public that he recognises Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and recognises Taiwan is also an inseparable part of the Chinese territory, we will contact and negotiate with him,” she said.
“We demand the US honour its commitment to recognising Tibet as one part of China and not supporting ‘Tibetan independence’ activities, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs by exploiting the Tibet issue,” Zhang said.
