China warns Japan, Europe not to support Dalai Lama

(BEIJING) - China said Tuesday it opposed foreign nations providing support to what it said was the Dalai Lama's attempts to split Tibet from China, reacting to reports that he may go to Japan and Europe.

"We oppose his splittist activities. We oppose any officials of foreign countries providing support for the splittist activities by the Dalai Lama," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.

Jiang made the remark when asked to comment on plans by the Dalai Lama to make a stopover in Japan next week on his way to the United States.

The Dalai Lama is a frequent visitor to Japan, where he enjoys a wide public following. But unlike many of their Western counterparts, Japanese leaders have almost always refused to meet the Nobel peace laureate.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner also said Tuesday the European Union's 27 foreign ministers would invite the Dalai Lama for talks in Brussels.

"As the Dalai Lama does not ask for a boycott (of the Olympic Games in Beijing) nor Tibet's independence it is time to go back (to dialogue)," Kouchner said.

When asked to comment on this, Jiang referred to her previous statement.

The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, is an iconic figure representing the Tibetan people on the world stage, nearly six decades after the Himalayan region was occupied by China.

He has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama has repeatedly denied he wants independence for Tibet, or is trying to orchestrate independence. He has said he wants greater autonomy for Tibet under Chinese rule, but also an end to repression there.