The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive rebellion in opposition to Chinese language rule (File)
Taipei:
Taiwan would welcome a go to by exiled Tibetan religious chief the Dalai Lama, its international ministry stated on Monday, a visit that might infuriate Beijing which views him as a harmful separatist.
The Dalai Lama has not visited the Chinese language-claimed, democratic island underneath the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, who first took workplace in 2016. He final got here in 2009.
In a birthday message by way of video hyperlink to supporters in Taiwan on Sunday, the Dalai Lama stated he wish to go to once more.
“Because the political state of affairs adjustments, it could be that I will have the ability to go to you in Taiwan once more. I hope so. No matter occurs I will stay with you in spirit,” he stated on his web site.
Taiwan Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou stated the federal government had not but acquired an software for him to journey to the island however would deal with it underneath “related guidelines” if one got here.
“We are going to, in accordance with the precept of mutual respect and at a time of comfort for either side, welcome the Dalai Lama to return to Taiwan once more to propagate Buddhist teachings,” Ou added.
Beijing is deeply suspicious of Taiwan’s president, believing she needs to push for the island’s formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan is already an impartial nation known as the Republic of China, its official identify.
Taipei-Beijing relations have worsened additional since Taiwan provided to obtain Hong Kong individuals who want to go away town after China handed a brand new nationwide safety legislation final week, a suggestion Beijing has condemned.
The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive rebellion in opposition to Chinese language rule. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
China accuses him of being a “splittist”, however he says he solely needs real autonomy for his distant Himalayan homeland.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Modifying by Nick Macfie)
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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