UPDATED ON:
Thursday, November 27, 2008
08:15 Mecca time, 05:15 GMT
 
News Asia-Pacific
China to boycott summit with EU

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of trying to split China and inciting recent riots in Tibet [Reuters]

China has has pulled out of an upcoming summit with the European Union, blaming the French president for planning to meet the Dalai Lama.

Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader had "deprived the EU-China summit of the required good atmosphere and made it impossible for it to obtain the anticipated result", the Chinese foreign ministry said on its website on Thursday.

"We resolutely oppose the Dalai travelling to other countries in any capacity to carry out activities aimed at splitting China. We resolutely oppose foreign leaders having any form of contact with the Dalai," Qin said.

Despite Chinese protests, Luc Chatel, a spokesman for the French government, said on Wednesday that the meeting with the Dalai Lama scheduled for late next week, would go ahead.

Sarkozy was to have hosted the EU-China summit on Monday in the southern French city of Lyon and Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, had been due to attend.

China has long sought to isolate the Dalai Lama from international support, accusing him of trying split China and blaming him for inciting anti-Chinese riots in Tibet earlier this year.

The Dalai Lama ruled out retirement after exiled Tibetans agreed at a summit last week to maintain the "middle way" which seeks autonomy rather than outright independence from China, despite the 73-year-old Nobel Peace laureate admitting recently that the 20-year-old strategy had been a "failure".

More than 500 exiled Tibetans met in Dharamsala, India, to review the Tibetan policy towards China and a majority supported the "middle way".

However they also said they would seek independence if China refused to grant Tibet autonomy within a reasonable amount of time.

 Source: Agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 11
 
D
Canada
27/11/2008
Sarkozy do your job!
Sarkozy is an idiot, choosing to meet with the Dalai Lama over the Chinese Premier. He's hurting the economies of the EU to play political games. His job is to help France and the EU, not agitate the Chinese Government. This was a really bad decision and makes Sarkozy appear irresponsible with the well-being of his countrymen.

Cam
United States
27/11/2008
Responding to D
Sarkozy's job is to meet with all diplomats, regardless of who it may anger. The meeting was broken by China, not France, because the Chinese are in denial about their treatment of the Dalai/Tibet. This hardly makes it Sarkozy's fault. Refusing to engage in dialog simply because one communicated with someone they do not agree with is childish. It's much like the US refusing to meet with Iran because they do things we don't like. I bet D would be the first to criticize the US for that

Abuk
United States
27/11/2008
D you are 100% right, he is an idiot. He actually reminds me of Bush, and I wonder how these people become elective members of these powerful countries. Chinese do not like franchs anyway and now he has given them a strong reason to stay away from EU's economic crisis. He must be very proud.

sambrown
Nigeria
27/11/2008
Sarkozy meets Dlai Lama
I've terrible leaders,but Bush and Sarkozy takes the cake.You oppose southern Ossetians' independence while supporting Kosovo and Tibet sim,ply because Russia and China are involved.They should label you American secretary of Foreing affairs,French presidential office.Wake up!!!!Bush is leaving and you soon will.I guess your master Bush will give u a pat on the back for a job similarly done.

linlinchit
Malaysia
27/11/2008
Sarkozy to meet Dalai Lama
Sarkozy badly needs this political posturing to raise his profile back home, being a flop on the economic front. The political monk badly needs financial backing from the West.

Kalikwela
Finland
27/11/2008
Its irrelevant
Whether or not Sarkozy meets with the Dalai Lama, the Chinese will continue to do business with the EU. The issue of Tibet is irrelevant, and is more a part of "showing the EU has a heart" than affecting any policies.

Tenbear
Canada
01/12/2008
China Junta
China is run by a Junta who has a very skillful well financed propaganda machine these propagandist make China seem like a well run country with human rights , environmental laws etc and that Tibet is and has been a part of China , this is of course a lie . Now that Sarkozy has asked Dalai Lama to visit France the China junta will spread more lies to leverage there position to benefit the junta and no one else thus making it seem like they have been wronged .

sheilanagig
Ireland
01/12/2008
China to boycott summit with EU
Sarkozy has done more to damage the EU than any previous president. With his napoleonic hubris, he has alienated not only his own country, but most of the people in other EU member states. (In fact, Sarkozy voodoo dolls were sold out in one day at Amazon.com - the sale upheld by the French court) Now his pompous arrogance interferes with the very heart of the EU, international trade. It is clear he does not serve the people of the EU, but his own glory. The Chinese are right.

Chaucer
Taiwan
27/11/2008
Any cause Sarkozy wants to meet with Dalai ?
To show he has every right to do what he wants to? France is in urgent need of help from Tibet? Dailai Lama has long descended into a politician ,far from a religious guru. He has separated from his six million people for more than 50 years. Is he still qualified to represent the majority of Tibetans? I doubt it. Sarkozy is only showing his sense of superiority over the Chinese. What he is doing is helpless to world peace especially the peace between China and Tibet.

D
Canada
27/11/2008
Missed the Point
Cam you've missed the point. Sarkozy, like every other leader, knows all that comes from meeting with the Dalai Lama is damaged relations with China. Knowing that he still went ahead with his meeting and that decision was not in the interests of France or the EU. China is a country, the Dalai Lama is just a person put this in perspective and don't play politics with trade matters that are important to the real lives of your citizens. Sarkozy's decision to meet with the Dalai Lama was wrong.

Sattaru
United States
30/11/2008
Go Ahead Sarkozy
Sarkozy is doing the right thing to meet the Dalai Lama. Others should also do the same .China should not bully EU or other countries based of Business boycott. Any Peace loving person with compassion would talk to dalai lama.

 
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