In a move that is set to anger Beijing even more, Taiwan has said it would welcome a visit by exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, the Hindustan Times reported.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry has said, any invitation would be handled under “relevant rules” if a request to visit is received, reported Radio Free Asia, a US-funded international broadcasting corporation.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said on Monday (13 July) said, “The Dalai Lama is welcome to come to Taiwan again to propagate the Buddhist teachings,” and the visit would be handled in accordance with the principle of mutual respect and at a time of convenience for both sides.”
A visit to Taiwan by the Dalai Lama would be his first since 2009 and would certainly anger Beijing, which claims self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province and regards the Tibetan spiritual leader as a dangerous separatist intent on splitting Tibet from Chinese rule.
In a video message to his devotees and followers his holiness the Dalai Lama said, “As the political scenario changes, it may be that I’ll be able to visit you in Taiwan again soon. I hope so,”. This message was conveyed to the island nation of Taiwan on his birthday, July 6.
Taiwan new President Tsai Ing-wen made some moves to further distance from China and the Dalai Lama said he will always remain with the people of Taiwan in spirit no matter what happens.
On his 85th birthday, his holiness received video messages from former US President George Bush, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Nobel laureates, and European politicians.
In a statement of support released by the US Ambassador to India Kenneth Ian Juster, the ambassador said, “The esteem in which you are held by the people of the United States is a demonstration of the deep and enduring affinity between Americans and Tibetans,”
He further added, “I believe the warm feelings between Americans and Tibetans spring in part from the recognition that yours is a just and noble struggle–a struggle to secure for your people the same self-evident and unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our Founding Fathers enshrined in the Declaration of Independence,”.
The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since 1959 after Tibetan national uprising against rule by China.