Behind the scene: Dalai Lama's Taiwan visit

Taipei, Aug. 28 (ANI): Taiwan's decision to overlook an angry Beijing and invite the Dalai Lama to visit the victims of typhoon Morakot was aimed at pacifying the wrath of southern Taiwanese, the Christian Science Monitor reports.

In December, President Ma Ying-jeou had said that "the timing wasn't appropriate" for Tibetan spiritual leader's visit to Taiwan.

According to the report, relations between Taiwan and China were better than ever last year, and Ma didn't want to upset the apple cart by hosting the man Beijing reviles as a "splittist" who heads up a treasonous "clique."

But today, when typhoon has taken 650 lives, Taiwan can benefit from a host of celebrity visits, fundraisers, and sympathy.

Clearly, the timing of a Dalai Lama's visit is much more perfect.

In fact, the opposition, which controls much of the typhoon-hit southern Taiwan, had invited the Dalai Lama.

Hence, Taiwanese President was forced to pick one of two bad options: Allow Dalai Lama's visit and harm recent-close relations with Chin, or refuse him, and incur southerners' wrath.

Evidently, Ma chose Beijing's fury. (ANI)