China lodges diplomatic protest after US delegation meets Dalai Lama

The Congressional delegation headed by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala.

China lodged a diplomatic protest with the US on Wednesday over a Congressional delegation’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in India, saying the move violated America’s commitment not to support Tibet’s independence.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama laughs with Republican Jim Sensenbrenner as Minority Leader in the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (right) looks on in Dharamsala on Wednesday. (AP)

“The meeting has sent very wrong signal to the world about supporting Tibetan independence,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

“The meeting violated the US government’s commitment not to support Tibet’s independence,” Geng said.

US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi meets Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala on Tuesday. (REUTERS)

US Congressmen should stop all kinds of contacts with the Dalai Lama, he said.

The Congressional delegation headed by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday in Dharamshala.

China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist working to split Tibet from China. It objects to any world leader or government official meeting the 81-year-old leader.