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China Livid at Dalai Lama Award

China tells American ambassador relations 'gravely undermined'

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2007 8:10 AM CDT
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(Newser) – China called the US ambassador on the carpet today, saying that the US had "gravely undermined relations" when President Bush yesterday presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters that DC is "very aware of what steps it can take" to correct the rift and accused the Dalai Lama of "manipulating Tibetans."

Exiled from Tibet since 1959, the Dalai Lama told a packed Congressional auditorium yesterday that he simply sought improved relations with China leading to partial autonomy. Bush himself urged China to open talks with him—which elicited an icy response from the foreign ministry spokesman: "I do not find any sincerity in him."

The Dalai Lama, left, accompanied by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, after he received the Congressional Gold Medal. The Dalai Lama also gave Pelosi an award for her support and effort through the Congress. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
The Dalai Lama, left, accompanied by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, after he received the Congressional Gold Medal. The Dalai Lama...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, left, chats with the Dalai Lama, right, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington during the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring The Dalai Lama. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush, left, chats with the Dalai Lama, right, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington during the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring The Dalai...   (Associated Press)
The Dalai Lama, right, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., greets the crowd on the West Side of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 200, after The Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
The Dalai Lama, right, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., greets the crowd on the West Side of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 200, after The Dalai Lama received the Congressional...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, left, and The Dalai Lama, right, look up in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, during the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring The Dalai Lama. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush, left, and The Dalai Lama, right, look up in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, during the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring The Dalai...   (Associated Press)
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao takes a question at a news conference in Beijing Thursday Oct. 18, 2007. Liu said that the United States has gravely undermined relations with China, a day after U.S. President George W. Bush presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, the U....
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao takes a question at a news conference in Beijing Thursday Oct. 18, 2007. Liu said that the United States has "gravely undermined" relations with China, a day after...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, left, looks at The Dalai Lama during the Presentation of the Colors during the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Bush, left, looks at The Dalai Lama during the Presentation of the Colors during the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington....   (Associated Press)
The Dalai Lama gestures on the West Steps of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, following a ceremony where he received the Congressional Gold Medal. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Dalai Lama gestures on the West Steps of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, following a ceremony where he received the Congressional Gold Medal. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)   (Associated Press)
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World • US

 
China • Tibet • Dalai Lama • Congressional Gold Medal • George W. Bush

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