China reaffirms opposition to Dalai Lama's visits to foreign countries

A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official reaffirmed Saturday China's opposition to Dalai Lama's visits to foreign countries.

Zhang Yijiong, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), speaks at a press conference held by the press center of the 19th CPC National Congress in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 21, 2017. The press conference was themed on the united front work and the external work of the CPC. [Photo: Xinhua]

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the 19th CPC National Congress, executive deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee Zhang Yijiong urged foreign governments to exercise "caution in both words and deeds." 

"The 14th Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure, but also a political one," Zhang said.

The aim of the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile" organized by him in a foreign country in 1959 is, in essence, seeking "Tibet independence" and splitting the motherland, according to the official.

"As head of the group, the 14th Dalai Lama has never stopped his activities in this regard over the past decades," Zhang said. 

"No country in the world recognizes the so-called 'Tibetan government-in-exile,'" he said, noting that although individual officials in some countries had received the Dalai Lama, their countries do not recognize the group.

"The Chinese government opposes governments and organizations in any country in the world to receive the Dalai Lama in any name," said the official.

"We consider such visit as a severe insult to the feelings of the Chinese people and a deviation from their commitment to recognizing the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China," he warned.

"So we hope governments around the world exercise caution in both words and deeds and give full consideration to their friendship with China and their respect for China's sovereignty," he added.

Zhang said there has been a decreasing number of countries receiving the Dalai Lama in their official capacity in recent years and the Dalai Lama could only manage to give lectures in universities or hold religious activities instead.