Obama meets Dalai Lama. Ignore Chinese objections

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Obama meets Dalai Lama despite Chinese objections

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama hosted the Dalai Lama at the White House on Thursday, brushing aside China's warning that the talks with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could further damage strained Sino-U.S. ties.

By going ahead with the meeting over Chinese objections, Obama may be trying to show his resolve against an increasingly assertive Beijing after facing criticism at home for being too soft with China’s leaders on his November trip “Chinese officials have known about this and their reaction is their reaction,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said dismissively.

Raising issues sure to stoke China's ire, Obama used his first presidential meeting with the Dalai Lama to press Beijing, which has faced international criticism for its Tibet policies, to preserve Tibet's identity and protect its people's human rights.

Obama sat down with the Dalai Lama, reviled by Beijing as a dangerous separatist but admired by millions around the world as a man of peace, in the face of wider tensions over U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, Beijing's currency policies and Chinese Internet security.

"The president commended the Dalai Lama's ... commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government," the White House said in a written statement after the nearly hour-long meeting.

The White House said Obama and the Dalai Lama also "agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China."

But after the talks the Dalai Lama, clad in sandals and burgundy robes, spoke to reporters on the White House driveway, saying he had expressed to Obama his admiration for the United States as a "champion of democracy, freedom, human values."

 

[longbow]

Truth is all US Presidents have always met the DL. But this time it was careful staged. In short, given the precarious state of global affairs - financial (China, being the 2nd largest economy not to mention financer of US borrowings) and political (Iran, North Korea, nuclear proliferation, Afghanistan all happening in China's backyear) the US need to work together with the Chinese.

The truth is that US and China need each other and they may not like it but they know it.

The rest of what we see is window dressing for various political audience (Obama must not kow tow to China; Chin'a political leaders must give some political to the PLA and generals over Taiwan Arms sales). As for DL, China will just wait another 10 years and after that problem will go away.

In Washington, it is all about the photo op.

Read on:

Dalai Lama gets upbeat _ but quiet _ Obama welcome

By JENNIFER LOVEN and FOSTER KLUG
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama personally welcomed the Dalai Lama to the White House Thursday and lauded his goals for the Tibetan people, but he kept their get-together off-camera and low-key in an attempt to avoid inflaming tensions with China.
At the risk of angering Beijing, Obama did tell the exiled spiritual leader he backs the preservation of Tibet's culture and supports human rights for its people. He also gave encouragement to the Dalai Lama's request for talks with the Chinese government

Meetings between the Dalai Lama and U.S. presidents became standard fare under former President George H.W. Bush nearly 20 years ago. But the choreography is always delicate and closely watched because of China's sensitivity to the issue.

Revered in much of the world, the Dalai Lama is seen by Beijing as a separatist who seeks to overthrow Chinese rule of Tibet. Though he says that is untrue, China regards any official foreign leader's contact with the Buddhist monk as an infringement on its sovereignty over the mountainous region and as a particularly unwelcome snub. China had urged Obama not to meet with the Dalai Lama, warning that the visit could further hurt ties.

China is a rising global rival for the U.S. and a hoped-for partner. So concern about reprisals, in the form of reduced cooperation with Washington or other punitive steps, has led American presidents, including Obama, to tread carefully.

There was no welcome fanfare on Thursday, nor a public appearance with the president. The White House released only a single official picture, rather than allow independent photographers and reporters to see the two men together. This from a president who promised _ and in some other ways has delivered _ unprecedented transparency in his White House.

The Dalai Lama did meet with reporters outside the White House, playfully tossing a bit of snow at them and declaring himself "very happy" with the visit.

George H.W. Bush allowed no photos of his 1991 talks with the Dalai Lama. Bill Clinton avoided formal sessions altogther, favoring drop-bys into the Dalai Lama's other meetings. George W. Bush kept his meetings under wraps, too _ though in 2007, he broke with tradition and appeared in public with the Dalai Lama to present him with the Congressional Gold Medal, at the Capitol.

Everything about Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama was muted.

"The optics of this thing are incredibly important to the Chinese," said Michael Green, George W. Bush's senior Asia adviser.

So Obama sat down with his fellow Nobel laureate in the Map Room instead of the Oval Office _ a decidedly lower status in the White House venue pecking order. Even the White House description of the talks was done on paper. The timing was a concession, too, as Obama declined to see the Dalai Lama during his Washington stay in October because it would have come before the president's November China visit.
"The president stated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said after the private meeting that lasted for more than an hour.

Obama's handling of the Dalai Lama visit also has concerned some who watched Obama seek the moral high ground on human rights during his campaign and early presidency.

Even more, to a public worried about the loss of U.S. jobs and global influence to China, the deference could come across as bending to Beijing's priorities. Similar questions arose during Obama's Asia trip, when some analysts concluded that the president gave much to China and got little back.

Obama, however, prides himself on pragmatism.

He believes China's help is the linchpin for several difficult and consequential global problems, from nuclear standoffs in Iran and North Korea to international agreement on fighting climate change.

Further, while U.S.-Chinese relations have been strained for years over currency and military disputes and other issues, Beijing's rapid growth of late has the two powerhouses moving closer to equals. With the Chinese government America's biggest creditor, holding $800 billion of federal debt, Beijing has extraordinary leverage in the relationship. Most recently, the Obama administration's approval of a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island that Beijing claims as its own, has raised tensions.
For the Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland to India in 1959 during a failed uprising eight years after Chinese troops took over Tibet, the visit _ whether private or not _ was a boon.

His envoy, Lodi Gyari, said Tibetans feeling marginalized by China would get encouragement from the session. Green said just the "fact that they spend time together in an intimate setting means everything for the Tibetan cause."

Speaking to reporters on the White House driveway, the Dalai Lama spoke to the president about the promotion of human values, religious harmony, a greater leadership role for women around the world and the concerns of the Tibetan people, and that Obama was "very much supportive."

___

Associated Press writer Julie Pace contributed to this report.

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Why does the West love the Dalai Lama?
BBC 18 Feb 2010

A US president is again choosing to meet the Dalai Lama despite Chinese opposition. But why is this Tibetan spiritual and political leader such a popular figure in the West?

To the Chinese government and to many of its people he is an inciter of violence and a defender of a brutal, backward, feudalistic, theocratic society.

But to many politicians and people in the West, the Dalai Lama is a kind of smiling, spiritual and political superhero.

His monastic robes, beaming countenance and squarish, unfashionable glasses are the stuff of a thousand photo opportunities. To some he is in a league of international personalities that contains only one other person - Nelson Mandela.

DALAI LAMA - KEY EVENTS

Born Tenzin Gyatso in 1935
Designated 14th incarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1937

Enthroned in 1940, but his rights exercised by regency until 1950 - the year Chinese troops entered Tibet.

Forced into permanent exile in 1959 after China's suppression of Tibetan national uprising.

India offers complete protection and sanctuary to Dalai lama and his followers.

Settled with other Tibetan refugees at Dharamsala, northern India.

Has since refused to return to Tibet
Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1989

He is well-known for his contact with Hollywood supporters like Richard Gere and Steven Segal.

Those who have met him describe an intense personal charisma.

There is a "wonderful smiling face, cherubic looks, the infectious laugh" says Alexander Norman, who co-operated with the Dalai Lama on his autobiography as well as several other works after first meeting him in 1988.

It is hard to escape the idea that the Dalai Lama is perceived almost as an avuncular "Santa Claus" figure by some, says Dr Nathan Hill, senior lecturer in Tibetan at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

"He is very photogenic. In the West we like stars. He is an extremely engaging person, and an extremely smart man. I find him extremely savvy politically, very forward looking."

There are many in the West who are seeking an unthreatening spiritual boost in an age of materialism, suggests Norman, who recently wrote The Secret Lives of the Dalai Lama.

"There is a huge desire in the secular West… a hunger for something other than the benefits that modern industrial society can supply."

Search on Amazon for the Dalai Lama's books and you see long lists of spiritual and self-help tracts.

"He is unstained by the world [to some readers]," says Dr Hill. "You want to read his books in order to find enlightenment yourself."

Tibetan mystique

And the appreciation of the Dalai Lama taps into some older Western ideas about Tibet as a remote Shangri-La.

 

[sodoMee]

Why people so rude one

who you want to invite to your house others can object want meh?

What kind of childish mentality is this?

 

[longbow]

There is really no strange mystique about DL. He is a leader of a religious movement.

Just look at Pope, Indian cult gurus (beatles spent time with one and there was this guru in US that had 30 to 40 rolls royces tills authorities kicked him out), Muslim clerics - Ayatolla Khomenei. With Christianity you have Rick Warren of Saddleback - Obama and McCain did a back to back one on one with him during elections (how about that for power).


Amongst the black actor/actress there is a following for Islam - Cat Stevens, Mohd Ali, Amongst Buddhism you have Richard Gere. BTW, Buddhism is not flavor of the month unlike Islam and thus more popular.

I think the Pope is easily in the same league as DL and Nelson Mandela if not even more.

So Obama has met with Rick Warren, Pope and now DL what is the big deal?

 

[longbow]

In Buddhism there is the middle way. What Obama is doing is the middle way. Meet DL as a religious leader (why shouldn't he) but not give him any recognition as a head of state. So he placate many of Obama's supporters but yet keep the Chinese happy. I think the Dalai Lama would understand this very well.

 

[FlipSide]

There is really no strange mystique about DL. He is a leader of a religious movement.

Just look at Pope, Indian cult gurus (beatles spent time with one and there was this guru in US that had 30 to 40 rolls royces tills authorities kicked him out), Muslim clerics - Ayatolla Khomenei. With Christianity you have Rick Warren of Saddleback - Obama and McCain did a back to back one on one with him during elections (how about that for power).


Amongst the black actor/actress there is a following for Islam - Cat Stevens, Mohd Ali, Amongst Buddhism you have Richard Gere. BTW, Buddhism is not flavor of the month unlike Islam and thus more popular.

I think the Pope is easily in the same league as DL and Nelson Mandela if not even more.

So Obama has met with Rick Warren, Pope and now DL what is the big deal?

You over simply everything, like a illiterate painter using a crude wide paint brush. Mixing up the Pope with the Rick Warren, Dalai Lama with Ayatollah.

Obama meeting with the DL is indeed a big deal. Because it appears that he place more importance to meeting the Lama than care two hoots about PRC objections. That is the message the rest of the world gets.

It also means to say, the PRC is not in any position to decide who can and cannot meet the Dalai Lama. Just a paper tiger making noise. That is the big deal here in this meeting.

 

[Zombie]

Just a paper tiger making noise.

The show has just started.... wait and see how it goes...

 

[longbow]

Where is there a simplification? Isn't DL like the Pope? A religious leader? He is not leader of any country or else he would have been given a state reception followed by rose Garden press conference. So what is DL other than a religious leader? You tell me.

Haven't you miss the big fat underlying picture? The Obama DL meet was postponed by Obama prior to his Beijing visit to appease Beijing and secondly today's meeting was greatly toned down. A lot of politics going on that you fail to notice. In diplomacy, everyone gets to take a piece back home for their supporters. China got a toned down visit with zero in terms of state recognition, Dalai Lama got to meet Obama and throw snowballs at media, Obama got to do what all Presidents do, hold an unofficial meeting with DL and thereby satisfy his left leaning supporters. Diplomacy right? I see status quo

You over simply everything, like a illiterate painter using a crude wide paint brush. Mixing up the Pope with the Rick Warren, Dalai Lama with Ayatollah.

Obama meeting with the DL is indeed a big deal. Because it appears that he place more importance to meeting the Lama than care two hoots about PRC objections. That is the message the rest of the world gets.

It also means to say, the PRC is not in any position to decide who can and cannot meet the Dalai Lama. Just a paper tiger making noise. That is the big deal here in this meeting.

 

[FlipSide]

Where is there a simplification? Isn't DL like the Pope? A religious leader? He is not leader of any country or else he would have been given a state reception followed by rose Garden press conference. So what is DL other than a religious leader? You tell me.

Haven't you miss the big fat underlying picture? The Obama DL meet was postponed by Obama prior to his Beijing visit to appease Beijing and secondly today's meeting was greatly toned down. A lot of politics going on that you fail to notice. In diplomacy, everyone gets to take a piece back home for their supporters. China got a toned down visit with zero in terms of state recognition, Dalai Lama got to meet Obama and throw snowballs at media, Obama got to do what all Presidents do, hold an unofficial meeting with DL and thereby satisfy his left leaning supporters. Diplomacy right? I see status quo

The role of the Pope and Dalai Lama lama are different in so many ways. No need to elaborate.

What big fat underlying picture.?
The Americans seem not to care or hear about the big sounding protests from the PRC. Many US presidents before this present one, did the same. Ignored the PRC objections. So did the French government, the British and German, the Canadians.

In fact if I am not mistaken the Americans even sold a big qty of weapons to Taiwan, this month. So much for the paper tiger's growls !

 

[Zombie]

But after the talks the Dalai Lama, clad in sandals and burgundy robes, spoke to reporters on the White House driveway, saying he had expressed to Obama his admiration for the United States as a "champion of democracy, freedom, human values."

Freedom??... DL enjoyed real freedom inside the Freedom Cage?