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Bush Meets Dalai Lama, but Quietly

Low-profile get-together, US award enrage China

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2007 4:54 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Bush ignored China's fury today and met with the Dalai Lama, who will pick up a Congressional Gold Medal tomorrow, Reuters reports. "If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world," said a Tibetan Communist Party boss. But the Dalai Lama shrugged off China's rage, saying, "That always happens."

The half-hour meeting was private, so as not to "make China feel that we are poking a stick in their eye," a White House spokesman said. But China's anger over the Dalai Lama, who sparked a revolt for Tibet's independence in 1959, is growing on the world stage: Beijing recently ignored meetings with Germany and other powers to protest support for the spiritual leader.
 

In this photo provided by the New York City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomes the Dalai Lama, right, into Gracie Mansion in New York Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Mayor%u2019s Press Office, Kristen Artz)
In this photo provided by the New York City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomes the Dalai Lama, right, into Gracie Mansion in New York Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Mayor%u2019s Press Office, Kristen...   (Associated Press)
The Dalai Lama is greeted upon his arrival in Washington, Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. He is in Washington where he will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony Wednesday. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
The Dalai Lama is greeted upon his arrival in Washington, Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. He is in Washington where he will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony Wednesday. (AP Photo/Lawrence...   (Associated Press)
The Dalai Lama is greeted upon his arrival in Washington, Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. He is in Washington where he will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony Wednesday. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
The Dalai Lama is greeted upon his arrival in Washington, Monday, Oct. 15, 2007. He is in Washington where he will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony Wednesday. (AP Photo/Lawrence...   (Associated Press)
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