China objects to Blinken's meet with Dalai Lama aide

China has objected to Antony Blinken's meeting with a representative of his holiness the Dalai Lama saying that Tibetan affairs are purely its internal affairs that it will not allow any foreign interference.

New Delhi: China on Thursday opposed the United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's meeting with the representatives of his holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Govt in Exile, in New Delhi.

In response to a media query on Blinken holding talks with a representative of Dalai Lama, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lijian Zhao said, "Tibetan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. The 14th Dalai Lama is by no means just religious personnel, but rather a political exile who has long been engaging in anti-China separatist activities and attempting to split Tibet from China".

He said that China firmly opposes any form of contact between foreign officials and the Dalai Lama. "Any form of contact between the US side and the Dalai clique is a violation of the US commitment to acknowledging Tibet being part of China, not supporting "Tibetan Independence", and not support attempts to separate China", Zhao stated.

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"The US side should honour its commitment, stop meddling in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Tibetan affairs, and offer no support to the 'Tibetan independence' forces to engage in anti-China separatist activities. China will take all necessary measures to defend its interests", the spokesperson reiterated.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who was on a visit to India met with the Tibetan Buddhist monk Geshe Dorji Damdul, current director of Tibet House in Delhi. Blinken also held a separate meeting with the representative of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile, Ngodup Dongcheng.

The meeting between Blinken and the Tibetan leaders has irked Beijing especially because it sent a message to China on Tibet from India- the country that hosts Tibetan religious leaders.

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