US President Barack Obama met with Dalai Lama on Wednesday at the White House’s Map Room. There’s only a photo from this ‘personal’ meeting, which Dalai Lama placed into his own Instagram. No video cameras or reporters were allowed in the Map Room — under such conditions the fourth meeting between Tibet’s spiritual leader and American President was organized.
‘Personal’ meeting was organized at the White House for Obama and Dalai Lama on Wednesday, during the meeting two men discussed not only the ‘Middle Way’ approach but recent shooting in Orlando and splash of violence in the world.
According to media, it was ‘behind closed doors’ meeting, because China warned Obama against meeting with the exiled Dalai Lama, saying it could damage mutual trust. Tibet for China is a dangerous separatist region, and Dalai lama is its spiritual leader. That’s why this ‘personal’ meeting could influent the Chinese-American relationships.
Meanwhile, President Obama refers to the Dalai Lama as “a good friend,” China sees this meeting as ‘wrong message’ to Tibetans. Moreover, photo in Instagram of Dalai Lama shows the warmest moment in their event: two men facing each other, locked in an embrace that spoke volumes about the warmth of their relationship.
China and Tibet: the ‘Middle way’
In a political world, there’s still a tense situation between Tibet and the People’s Republic of China. Dalai Lama has advocated for a middle way — not asking for independence from China for Tibet, but for more autonomy. And Obama “emphasized his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions and the equal protection of human rights of Tibetans in China,” says the press release of the White House.
