China today warned that it would consider as a major offence if any country or foreign leader hosts or meets the Dalai Lama as it deems the Tibetan spiritual leader a separatist trying to split Tibet from it.
China routinely protests world leaders meeting the Dalai
Lama. It also makes it mandatory for all the foreign governments to recognise Tibet as part of China to have diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Zhang Yijiong, Executive Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) said on the sidelines of the once-in-a-five-year congress of the CPC.
He said China would not accept the arguments of foreign countries and leaders to meet the 82-year-old Dalai Lama as a religious leader.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959. He has been living in India in exile since then.
Source: AIR