Teasing China? Obama decides to meet the Dalai Lama?

Washington, Jul 16: Despite

to the US officials against meeting the Dalai Lama, President Barack Obama has decided to go ahead and meet the Tibetan spiritual guru at the White House. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Jul 16 and according to the White House, Obama will express his support for the protection of Tibetans' human rights.

The White House, in a statement issued on Jul 15 said, "This meeting underscores the President's strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans."

According to the statement, the US President will also emphasise on his support for dialogue between Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese government on getting greater autonomy for the Tibetans living in the Tibetan Autonomous region of China.

Significantly the media has been barred from covering the media.

The move is expected to infuriate Beijing which has already made its stance clear on the meeting of US lawmakers with the Dalai Lama - whom the Chinese government regards as an "instigator of separatism".

The US and China have always had a turbulent relationship as the former has criticised the latter's dismal human rights record many times and furthermore the South-East Asian nation sees the US as its sole competitor in becoming the lone global super-power.

OneIndia News