China: Obama meeting with Dalai Lama ‘seriously harms’ bilateral relations

CHINA protested US president Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in strong terms yesterday, saying it “seriously harms” bilateral relations and demanding the US take steps to improve ties.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai summoned US Ambassador Jon Huntsman to lodge a “solemn representation” over Thursday’s meeting at the White House, which Beijing called an interference in Chinese domestic affairs.

“The behaviour of the US side seriously interferes in China’s internal politics, seriously hurts the national feelings of the Chinese people and seriously harms US-China relations,” a Foreign Ministry statement said, quoting spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.