China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday criticizing a meeting between U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
During the meeting on Friday in Colorado, McCain called on the Chinese government to release political prisoners in the mountainous province, account for Tibetans that 'disappeared' in pro-independence protests in March, and to engage in real dialogue on Tibetan autonomy.
The ministry said on its website: "The situation in Tibet is an internal pol
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itical affair for China, and we call on the Untied States to respect the basic principles of international law, and not under any pretext to support the separatist activities of the Dalai Lama, to the detriment of Chinese-American relations."
China accuses the Dalai Lama of masterminding the March protests and ensuing violence, a charge he denies.
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959, has repeatedly said he seeks autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from China. Beijing has demanded that the spiritual leader recognize Tibet as a part of China.
Talks between Chinese officials and the Dalai Lama's representatives in early May brought no progress, and further discussions scheduled for June were postponed after a devastating earthquake in China's southwest.
China's handling of the protests in Tibet's capital, Lhasa, has been severely criticized in the West. Some leaders called for a boycott of the opening ceremony of Beijing's Olympic Games if China failed to agree to negotiate with the Dalai Lama.
China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday criticizing a meeting between U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
