China opposes planned Obama-Dalai Lama meeting

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Reuters

China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence, which he denies.
The United States confirmed on Thursday that Obama would meet the Dalai Lama in Washington in the middle of this month.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement yesterday that "China resolutely opposes the visit by the Dalai Lama to the United States, and resolutely opposes US leaders having contact with the Dalai Lama."

Every US president in the last two decades has met with the Dalai Lama.