TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Dalai Lama's U.S. Trip, Visit With Bush Angers China

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Dalai Lama, after meeting privately Tuesday with President Bush, brushed off China's furious reaction to U.S. celebrations this week in his honor.

'That always happens,' the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists said with a laugh.

The White House defended the meeting in the president's residence and dismissed Beijing's warning that the talks and the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to him today would damage relations between the two countries.

The Dalai Lama is hailed in much of the world as a moral authority figure.

Beijing reviles the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and claims that he seeks to destroy China's sovereignty by pushing for independence for Tibet, which China has ruled with a heavy hand since its communist-led forces invaded in 1951.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT