China Condemns US Meeting With Dalai Lama, Warns Against Future Visits

China has expressed strong opposition to any country allowing the Dalai Lama to visit under any pretext, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry stated on Thursday. This statement follows a meeting between senior US State Department and White House officials with the Dalai Lama in New York on Wednesday. US officials reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the human rights of Tibetans, according to the State Department.

China, which views the 89-year-old exiled spiritual leader as a dangerous separatist, has lodged formal protests with the US over the meeting. “China has made solemn protests with the US,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a regular press briefing. “We don’t allow the Dalai Lama to engage in political separatist activities in the US”

Last month, China also voiced strong opposition to a US law signed by President Joe Biden that urges Beijing to resolve the ongoing dispute over Tibet’s demands for greater autonomy. The Chinese foreign ministry criticized the appointment of a special coordinator for Tibetan issues, calling it interference in China’s internal affairs and vowed to “firmly defend” its interests.