China furious over Dalai Lama's planned visit to Taiwan
10:33, 28 August 2009
MOSCOW. August 28. KAZINFORM. China has criticized Taiwan's decision to invite the Dalai Lama, accusing the Tibetan spiritual leader of seeking to damage the republic's relations with Beijing; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
Taiwan invited the Dalai Lama to comfort victims of Typhoon Morakot, Taiwan's worst storm in half a century, which has claimed at least 461 lives.
"The Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure," Xinhua news agency quoted a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office as saying. "Under the pretext of religion, he has all along been engaged in separatist activities."
He said Chinese and Taiwanese compatriots would protest against the Dalai Lama's visit; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.