Home > Elsewhere on the web > Foreign media: what damage will Obama-Dalai meeting cause?

Foreign media: what damage will Obama-Dalai meeting cause?

People's Daily Online

Since Barack Obama has been in power, the meeting between him and the Dalai Lama has become a cloud hanging above the China-US relationship. A lot of Americans claim that it is a matter of adhering to US values, but China emphasizes it is a provocation against its national sovereignty. It seems both sides will not compromise on the Dalai Lama issue, according to reports from the “Global Times” newspaper published on 21 February.

While reporting the meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama, the conservative UK newspaper “The Independent” said 19 February that the US hauled the tail of the dragon. Now, the question is how bad will the damage be?

The report said that the White House claimed the China-US relationship was sophisticated enough to overcome differences on some issues and find common ground on important international issues, but it seems only the US thinks this way. The reality is that the 2 big countries will have tense diplomatic battles in aspects such as trade, national defense, the Iran issue and climate change. The tension caused by differences will run through a long period of time. Of course, it will be crazy if Washington adopts aggressive policies in all aspects. If the US and other countries want to cooperate with China smoothly on international issues, they must respect China, because China’s power is real and true.

The Indian website “My News” commented that the meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama is nothing but a boring drama, which started when the Dalai Lama went into exile in 1959. About the meeting, different American people have different opinions. Some media said the meeting indicates that Obama attaches great importance to human rights, but more people are interested in the White House’s “humility.”

The Christian Science Monitor published a report with pictures 19 February, saying that the Dalai Lama left the White House from the back door, where nothing but a reclamation depot was waiting for him.

On the website of the US-based “Business Week,” a netizen named “Tommy” asked: Is it so important for Obama to meet the Dalai Lama? Can the Dalai Lama magically reduce US unemployment?

US media reported that Stephen Bosworth, the US special representative for North Korea, is now considering visiting Beijing in March. The visit is aimed at restarting the 6-party talks and testing if the currently discouraging China-US relationship has affected Beijing’s stance towards North Korea.

According to a report from Reuters entitled “Washington Predicts China’s Reaction,” some experts claimed that the Chinese side may retaliate by dispatching a low-ranking official to participate in a nuclear security summit scheduled to kick off in April and to be presided over by Washington, or denying visas to some US officials.

A French newspaper reported that it is very difficult to determine if China will take a series of countermeasures against the US Obviously, China will use tougher words to protest against US despite the fact no one can determine the level of China’s anger. The newspaper added that the 2 sides may take more uncompromising attitudes such as postponing mutual-visits in the near future, but neither China nor the US will take substantial actions against each other. It is unclear if China will resort to economic countermeasures or will take an uncooperative attitude on international issues.

Austria’s national television station commented 19 February that Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama is a very moderate provocation. However, Obama will certainly not see a good effect if he intends to use the meeting as a tool of “democratic infiltration into China.”

BBC quoted an expert from Indiana University as saying that the Dalai Lama who grasps every opportunity to meet with leaders of foreign countries should accept the fact that he will not find a solution to the Tibet-related dispute during his remaining years.

Copyright © 2010 People's Daily Online

Published in People's Daily Online