(TibetanReview.net, Aug15, 2017) – China has made it clear Aug 14 that it was still angry with Botswana for having refused to prevent the Dalai Lama from visiting the country even though the latter has since cancelled his first ever presence in the country due to exhaustion.
China has reaffirmed its resolute opposition to the Dalai Lama’s anti-China separatist activities in any country, even though he had called off a planned trip to Botswana, reported China’s official Xinhua news agency Aug 14.
In separate letters to Botswana’s President Ian Khama – whom he was scheduled to meet with – and President Dr Susan Bauer-Wu of the Mind & Life Institute on Aug 12, the Dalai Lama expressed profound” apologies for being unable to visit the country as scheduled from Aug 15 to 20.
The Dalai Lama had said his hectic activities over the past several weeks had left him exhausted and that his “82-year old body was telling him to rest” – something he said his doctors had also advised.
Botswana had asserted sovereign right to invite the Dalai Lama when China strongly and persistently objected to and criticized his planned visit and scheduled meeting with the country’s president.
Responding to media reports about the Dalai Lama’s cancellation of his visit, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying has told a press briefing that her government’s position remained firm. She has said China attached great importance to relations and friendly cooperation with Botswana, and hoped bilateral ties will maintain positive and healthy development.