WASHINGTON: The United States has denied any shift in its policy position on Tibet, but has defended its decision that President Barack Obama would hold a meeting with the Dalai Lama only after his summit meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing next month.
The spiritual leader arrived in Washington on Monday. He will have meetings with prominent lawmakers and the State Department’s newly-appointed coordinator for Tibet, Under Secretary of State Maria Otero.
Amid sharp criticism from Republicans that the Obama administration was kowtowing to Beijing, the State Department maintained that President Obama’s decision to meet the Dalai Lama “at a mutually agreeable time” and his own engagement of China are two separate issues.
Asked if the postponement of the Dalai Lama’s meeting did not signal a change in US policy towards Tibet, spokesman Ian Kelly said he “wouldn’t necessarily read anything” into the decision about the timing of the meeting.
“We’ve decided to meet with the Dalai Lama because of our respect for his position, the fact that he is a revered spiritual leader. Our position regarding China is clear that we want to engage China. We think China is an important global player,” Kelly said, stressing that the US would not try to downplay its concerns and disagreements with China on human rights and freedom of expression.
Asked if Tibet would come up in meet with the Chinese leadership, Kelly said it would, along with issues of human rights and religious freedom.
Republicans, however, have seized on the postponement decision, terming it a clear bid to appease the Chinese. California Republican Dana
Rohrabacher, co-chair of the Congressional Tibet Caucus, slammed the administration for its “unwillingness to meet with an internationally respected human rights leader in order to placate Chinese tyrants.”
The “Politico” journal wondered if the decision had relation with the US Treasury’s $800 billion debt, held by China.