China protests to US over American delegation meeting Dalai

China today lodged a diplomatic protest with the US over a Congressional delegation's meeting with the Dalai Lama in India, saying the move sent a "wrong signal" to the world and violated America's commitment not to support Tibet's independence.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities in foreign countries under the pretext of religion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing.

He was replying to questions on a US bipartisan Congressional delegation headed by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi meeting the 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. 

"The Dalai Lama is also the head of the Tibetan independence



group," Geng said when asked whether the US delegation's visit, which is the first after US President Donald Trump took over office in January, signals his administration's policy towards Tibet.

Geng said the US delegation's visit to Dharamshala and their meeting with the Dalai Lama has "sent a very wrong signal to the outside world about supporting Tibetan independence and violated the US government's commitment not to support Tibet's independence."

"We are firmly opposed to that and has lodged solemn representation with the American side. We urge the relevant Congressmen of the US to properly deal with the Tibetan related issues and stop all kinds of contacts with the Dalai Lama and take immediate measures to remove the negative impact," he said.