Close on the heels of President Barack Obama’s meeting on Friday with the Dalai lama, fuelling China’s anger, the United States has named a Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues.
Under Secretary of State Sarah Sewall, given concurrent designation as Special Coordinator, will work to promote “substantive dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai lama or his representatives”, the State Department announced. Sewall will “coordinate the US Government’s policies, programmes, and projects on Tibetan issues globally, and particularly within context of our bilateral relationships with People’s Republic of China, India, and Nepal, where there are significant populations of Tibetans”.
“The President stressed that he encourages direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences and that a dialogue that produces results would be positive for China and Tibetans,” White House said. The meeting, as in the past, was not held at the Oval Office, but in the Map Room as a minor concession to the Chinese. Even so, it provoked a sharp reaction from Beijing - just as it had done on the two previous occasions when Obama had met with the Tibetan spiritual leader in February 2010 and July 2011.
During the 45-minute meeting, Obama reiterated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in China. Obama commended the Dalai lama’s commitment to peace and nonviolence and expressed support for his “Middle Way” approach,” the White House said. The US President, however, stuck to Washington’s known position that Tibet is a part of China and that America does not support Tibet independence.
“The Dalai lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese Government will resume,” the statement said, adding the two leaders “agreed on the importance of a positive and constructive relationship between the United States and China”.