The president of the United States Barack Obama is all set to meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on February 21, 2014. However, it has been reported that China has asked the US to cancel the upcoming meeting and stated that it will seriously affect the relationship between the United States and China.
The Dalai Lama has been described as a separatist by China, while the leader himself says that he only supports greater autonomy for Tibet and not its independence. Meanwhile, officials say that the United States are not in favor of independence of Tibet, but are more concerned about the human rights in China. The last meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama was held in 2011 and the talks between the two leaders angered China.
In the past, China has been accused of repressing religious and political freedom in Tibet. Meanwhile, Beijing rejected these allegations and stated that economic development has improved the lives of Tibetans. Officials from the US said that Obama will welcome Dalai Lama in a private meeting at the White House Map Room on February 21, 2014.
Traditionally, Obama welcomes foreign leaders in the Oval Office, so the meeting in the Map Room is an indication that the visit is given a lower-profile. The government of China has accused Dalai Lama of guiding the protests, which is something that is strongly denied by the Tibetan leader.
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