President Obama Should Meet Dalai Lama In White House
While there are many reasons we need to have a working relationship with China so to form coalitions regarding trade, Iran, and global warming concerns it is also obvious the United States can not be made a tool of China. There has long been a profoundly troubled relationship between China and the Dalai Lama. The reasons for the strife can not be placed at the feet of the Dalai Lama, but instead directly on the shoulders of the communist giant. As such, there should be no doubt whatsoever the US reaction to the latest missive from China concerning President Obama and the Dalai Lama’s meeting in the next few weeks. President Obama needs to meet with the Dalai Lama and (here is the hot sauce in the eye) should do so in the White House. (Now I know that will never happen, but it should.) The Dalai Lama deserves our respect, and his people our understanding. Nothing would make that more clear than a White House meeting. Would it create tensions with China? Yes, but the last months have also produced differences on a wide range of issues anyway. Should we not do the right thing out of concern more tensions might mount? That is not the way to construct a moral and principled foreign policy. Therefore I hope that President Obama opts for a high profile meeting with the Dalai Lama.
China has warned that ties with the US would be undermined if US President Barack Obama met the Dalai Lama.
There is speculation that Mr Obama will meet the Tibetan spiritual leader in Washington later this month, but no date has been confirmed.
Communist Party official Zhu Weiqun said such a meeting would “threaten trust and co-operation” between Beijing and Washington.
For the reasons given, I do not see the need to meet him in the White House other than to poke China in the eye. I don’t think that is helpful.
The Dali Lama is one of the most important people in the world today. His message as a spiritual leader needs to be heard. It’s is grounded in peace, compassion, tolerance and love. This is a threat to all governments based on greed, fear, suspension and hate. This includes capitalism. When the China giant shows contempt and even fear of a single person, shouldn’t we listen to that person.
It would do everyone so much good if they read just one of his books. Tibet was invaded decades ago but they cannot kill Buddhism. The Dali Lama has traveled the world many times over spreading the Buddha massage and because of this China hates him.
I think it interesting you ask the question.
Without being flippant, I think you might also ask that question of the Chinese government. Why are they so hell-bent that a meeting NOT take place. Since I have no qualms with meetings between our government and others around the globe be they the PLO, or the Syrian government (who I still fault for much bloodshed in Lebanon) I can think of no reason not to have President Obama meet the Dalai Lama.
To answer you question…….
First he is an international leader and spokesperson of the Tibetan pople. To allow for any country to set the agenda for whom the leader of the US meets is crazy. . The tail should never wag the dog.
Tibet has a recored history that deserves respect. The Dalai Lama is the traditional ruler and just because China deems him not to be the ruler does not make it so.
I have always been amused that the Chinese government found so much to fear from a man as gentle as the Dalai Lama.
I will confess that on the issue of Taiwan my heart is closer to that of Ronald Reagan than what might be termed ‘the State Department line’. Always has been. I love Chinese history, but find China, in terms of its government, most troubling. I have always felt that the people of Taiwan should have their own government as expressed by the desires of the people that live there. I know the ‘One China’ policy is designed to nurture a larger more comprehensive foreign policy with China and the region. But is it principled and moral to do so when a large and vocal ‘nation’ wishes for independence? And if they did not have military threats, implied or otherwise, from China that desire would be more pronounced. So then what should our role be? And is it not strange that if for some reason China would move militarily on Taiwan that we might need to engage them as allies of Taiwan. If that can be theorized, then why can’t we give more verbal recognition of the rights of those who live there? Given the nature of the Chinese government for decades is it not just for the world’s largest democracy to support those who also wish to expand beyond a repressive regime? I do not think this neo-con thinking, but just basic humanity asking the question. I would support therefore having Taiwan being recognized at the United Nations.
Why is the Dalai Lama important? You can reply politically, economically, religiously, or whatever. Why is he so important?
Should Taiwan’s membership in the United Nation be restored? If not, why not?