Bush defends Dalai Lama award decision

US PRESIDENT George W Bush said yesterday that US relations with China will not be damaged by honouring the Dalai Lama.

Speaking hours before celebrating in Washington the exiled spiritual head of Tibet’s Buddhists, Mr Bush said: “I support religious freedom; he supports religious freedom. I want to honour this man.”

Since last year, China has pushed the US administration to scrap the award of the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama. Beijing reviles the Buddhist leader as a Tibetan separatist.