US under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya meets Dalai Lama; China protests the meet

New Delhi, May 20: While on her visit to India, US Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya, met Dalai Lama at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. China has issued a statement protesting the visit and her meeting with the Dalai Lama, fairly strongly.

 

 

 

 

US under Secretary of State, Uzra Zeya, who is also the US Special Coordinator for issues related to Tibet was on an official visit to India. Uzra Zeya met senior officials from the Indian govt, including Foreign Secretary and Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs. She also met the Chief Election Commissioner, among others. The discussions focused on global and regional issues of mutual interests.

 

While Chinese Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Zhao Lijian was addressing the media, he has strongly condemned the visit as well as India for letting the meet take place. He said, “The so-called Tibetan Government-in-Exile is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organization in total violation of the constitution and laws of China. It is not recognized by any country in the world."

 

 

 

 

 

He further said that the Dalai Lama was “a political exile disguised as a religious figure" and that he has long been engaging in anti-China separatist activities and attempting to split Tibet from China. Lijian further said, "The appointment of the so-called US Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues amounted to an interference in the internal affairs of China. China is firmly opposed to this and has never acknowledged it.”

 

 

In India, during the visit both sides (India and US) also discussed follow up to PM’s participation in the Summit for Democracy in Dec 2021, that US President Biden had hosted. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi addressing the media about China's protest said, "I am also not aware if there has been anything said by China on this to us, I'm not aware of it at least. But look, if it's happened recently in the last few hours, I don't know. But I'm not aware of this being taken up."