93. China chides Dalai Lama for 'internationalising' Tibet issue

PTI, Beijing - February 16, 2006

Ahead of the fifth round of negotiations on the Tibet, China today stepped up its attack on the Dalai Lama accusing him of "internationalising" the Tibet issue while describing as "private" the visits of the Buddhist leader's envoys to China for the discussions. "Everybody is very clear about Dalai Lama and all are well aware of his purpose of his visits. His purpose is to internationalise the Tibet question and split the motherland which we are resolutely opposed to," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters here. Reacting to reports that the Dalai Lama plans to visit the Palestine, Qin noted that China enjoyed good relations with Palestine and cautioned against attempts to create trouble in bilateral ties. "We have always supported the efforts of the Palestinian people in their just cause. We hope that the relationship between China and Palestine can develop smoothly and healthily," he said. While declining to comment on the Tibet issue since it was an "internal affair", the spokesman said some "overseas Tibetans" were visiting their motherland in their "private capacity." Qin said this when asked to comment on the visit by the Dalai Lama's envoys, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, who arrived in China yesterday for the fifth round of in-camera negotiations with Beijing on the Tibet issue. % "The Chinese government cares for the future of overseas Tibetan compatriots," Qin said while noting that since the 1980s, 70,000 overseas Tibetan compatriots visitied China. PTI