White House Defends Dalai Lama's Visit

China Protests Symbolism Of President Bush's Meeting With Tibetan Leader

(CBS/AP)  The White House defended President Bush's meeting with the Dalai Lama Tuesday, brushing aside China's warning that it would damage relations between Washington and Beijing.

Both Mr. Bush and members of Congress -- who are presenting him with the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday -- are stirring anger in China by honoring the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists. The Dalai Lama travels to Indiana next week for a six-day visit to Bloomington and West Lafayette.

"We solemnly demand that the U.S. cancel the extremely wrong arrangements," said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing. "It seriously violates the norm of international relations and seriously wounded the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered with China's internal affairs."

At the White House before the meeting, presidential spokesman Tony Fratto said: "We understand the concerns of the Chinese." But he also said Mr. Bush always has attended congressional award presentation ceremonies, has met with the Dalai Lama several times before and had no reason not to meet with him again.

"This is a meeting with a spiritual leader. This is not a meeting with a, for example, a head of state," Fratto added.

No media access was allowed to the 30-minute meeting that Mr. Bush had with the Dalai Lama on Tuesday in the yellow oval room of the private residence of the White House. CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that the president's meeting was not even listed on his public schedule and unlike previous meetings, there will be no release of a White House photo of the event.

While the Dalai Lama is lauded in much of the world as a figure of moral authority, Beijing reviles the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and claims he seeks to destroy China's sovereignty by pushing for independence for Tibet, where the Dalai Lama is considered a god-king.

The Dalai Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gyari, said earlier that the president of the United States standing side by side with the Dalai Lama at the ceremony would send a clear message that "people do care about Tibet. We have not been forgotten."

"I have no doubt this will give tremendous encouragement and hope to the Tibetan people," he told reporters ahead of the visit. It also "sends a powerful message to China that the Dalai Lama is not going to go away."

The Dalai Lama says he wants "real autonomy," not independence, for Tibet. But China demonizes the spiritual leader and believes the United States is honoring a separatist. The Dalai Lama's U.S. visit comes as China is holding its important Communist Party congress.

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CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller Blogs On The President's Meeting With The Dalai Lama

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Chinese diplomats have worked doggedly since the congressional award was voted on last year to get the ceremony and meeting with Mr. Bush scrapped and to "correct this mistake," Wang Baodong, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said in an interview.

A U.S. State Department official said Monday that China was protesting U.S. honors for the Dalai Lama by pulling out of an international strategy session on Iran sought by the United States and planned for Wednesday.

China objected to participating in the meeting on the day that the Buddhist leader is to receive the congressional honor, said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe another country's motives.

Wang Baodong, a Chinese Embassy spokesman here, did not directly dispute the U.S. depiction but said that the date for the Iran meeting was "not suitable" for the Chinese delegation.

The State Department also played down the visit. Spokesman Tom Casey said this week's events are unlikely "to change the basic shape and structure of U.S.-Chinese relations."

Congress has long championed the Dalai Lama; lawmakers also regularly criticize Beijing for human rights abuses and a massive military buildup, and claim that China ignores abuse by unsavory foreign regimes in Sudan and Myanmar in its pursuit of energy and business deals.

The Bush administration also finds fault with China but is usually more measured as it seeks to manage a booming trade relationship and a desire to enlist Chinese cooperation on nuclear standoffs with North Korea and Iran.

Analysts say Mr. Bush's decision to attend the public congressional ceremony reflects his concern over the situation in Tibet.

Judith Shapiro, a China author and professor at American University, says the visit is "not going to profoundly affect ties in either direction. China needs the U.S., the U.S. needs China, and issues like Tibet are a bit of a sideshow to the basic relationship."

The Dalai Lama is immensely popular in Tibet, which China has ruled with a heavy hand since its communist-led forces invaded in 1951. He has been based in India since fleeing his Himalayan homeland in 1959 amid a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

[bthrasher102]

To all the liberal democrat idiots who don''t know how to read. The Chinese are not only pissed off about the visit to the White House, but also CONGRESS awarding him a CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. Besides, the Chinese get pissed off every other day about something. They''ve threated to take over Taiwan for several years now and never have. Why haven''t they, you ask. Because we have a standing agreement to defend Taiwan. Don''t you think this has pissed off China more than giving the Dali Lama an award.

[realpatriot1]

gracchus1,

China isn''t holding our debt because we''re friends and they won''t be selling out anytime soon. The health of their economy is inextricably tied to the health of ours.

If China wants us to make them happy they can make us happy by releasing their political prisoners and using their clout with Burma & Sudan more constructively.

Bush was right to meet with the Dali Lama but was a total wimp to opt out of the photos.

[gopack443]

If the Chinese really wanted to stop bush from meeting with the Dalia Lama they should have threatened to cut off financing of his war.

Although W did back off on the normal photo opp. so maybe there was such talk behind the scenes.

looks like W is still a wimp after all.

[Krazcarl]

finewoven I agree most be a college party topic in his youth. You have to respect a religious figure that doesn''t preach hellfire and damnation and lives a life for peace and declines wealth and fame our preachers could get a lesson here. On the other hand could be to show China were not their lap dog

[finewoven]

President Bush does come up with some worthwhile ideas--meeting with the Dalai Lama. Maybe they can have a good conversation and determine some better ways about dealing with world events. China does''t have a say in our affairs, and who President Bush can meet with. Good effort here, I appreciate this.

[gunownerdan]

Dr. Ron Paul is the ONLY pro-peace and pro-liberty candidate running for president in 2008.
ronpaul2008.com

[kansas1946]

The White House defended President Bush''s meeting with the Dalai Lama Tuesday, brushing aside China''s warning that it would damage relations between Washington and Beijing.
******************************

Gee, I really hate to do this. Anyone who has read any of my posts knows that I have no regard for Bush, but on this one, I am going to stand behind him. I don''t know what his reasoning was for doing the right thing for once, but in any case, I applaud the action. Good for Bush.

[gracchus1]

Wow, pissing off China is an intelligent move. Anybody want to buy some worthless U.S. treasury bills?

[cfin5]

Drat!.....Should have been written, "What has "this" mere man.......

[cfin5]

"Congressional Gold Medal" to a foreigner for what? Aren''t there any of our citizens who have worked hard to be good and helpful to this country? Donating their money and time even at their peril to do so?.....What has mere man done for us even compared to an average American that has been keeping his nose to the grindstone to support the governments spendaholism? Man am I ashamed to read what is going on these days from both republicans and democrats trumpeting themselves to be Americans.

[jacksteen1]

The author''s basic reasoning is flawed; China needs the USA...the USA dies NOT need China''s cheapshit products, lead-painted toys, factory-closing, cheapshit shoes that self-destruct within two weeks, or factory-closing, cheapshit cotton garments made by slave labourers working for pennies per week.

USA''s robber baron coporations need China...we voters surely do not.

*************.

[gkc99]

I''m disappointed in the Dalai Lama that he would meet with a lowball scumlife like Bushit. Dalai is in danger of being reborn as a cockroach. His credibility has dropped quite a bit.

[yankeerebel7]

J-whitman:

Awesome, bringing up Fox News AND Hitler within two replys!! hahahaha yes, that''s just such classic liberal debating right there. oh man, good stuff. haha. I love it.

Let me guess what''s next...I''m a neocon who needs to open my eyes to the truth of what''s going on. Am I right?

[j-whitman]

speakinup,,,, Youthinks ????? Ha ha ha ha

[speakinup]

YR7 - so you make the call if you are still on site. Do I appear "ignorant" to you ? Does the back-handed insult from j-whitman appeal to you ?

Do you like hearing:

"Speakinup has constantly echoed GOP dishonorable rhetoric & doesn''t follow any truth...... When peoples are lacking in education, they will always believe thier leader''s hype & lies ---- Adolf Hitler knew it also."

and:


"YankeeRebel7,,,, Are you still watching Fox News ?? Try changing the channel ---- Bombings & insurgencies are up in Iraq, Turkey is causing problems & Russia allmost told Condi "Mushroom Cloud" Rice to go to hell."

It seems to me j-w doth protest too much, methinks.

[j-whitman]

speakinup,,, You need to make an appointment with an OBGYN Clinic --- Your boss wants the office furniture back

[j-whitman]

YankeeRebel7,,,, Ignorance is a choice, not a virtue ---- Speakinup has constantly echoed GOP dishonorable rhetoric & doesn''t follow any truth...... When peoples are lacking in education, they will always believe thier leader''s hype & lies ---- Adolf Hitler knew it also.

[speakinup]

Iceman_1960 LOL - I like it. Good sence of humor man.

Or, is that just Goodhumor Man.

Unfortunately J-w is only interested in one kind of pile - like any ole fly.

[iceman_1960]

"YR7 - I would agree with that characterization of the President, but don"t try to convince j-W. He"s made up his mind, and your pointing out facts will only be a waste of your time. Believe me."
- Posted by speakinup at 06:04 PM : Oct 16, 2007

DING DING DING

PILING ON -- a big violation of the rules. 1500 penalty points awarded.

j-whitman leads speakinup, 1500 to zip.

[j-whitman]

YankeeRebel7,,,, Are you still watching Fox News ?? Try changing the channel ---- Bombings & insurgencies are up in Iraq, Turkey is causing problems & Russia allmost told Condi "Mushroom Cloud" Rice to go to hell.