Dalai Lama criticizes China, supports peace laureate Liu Xiaobo
Nov. 8, 2010
Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama reiterated his criticism of China on Saturday, saying that Liu Xiaobo, the imprisoned Chinese dissident who won the Nobel Peace Prize this year, is merely trying to bring more accountability to the country.
Liu is ''not toppling government but trying to bring more openness, more accountability,'' he told reporters near Narita airport outside Tokyo after his arrival to attend a three-day meeting of Nobel peace laureates from Nov. 12 in Hiroshima.
The visit by the Dalai Lama, himself a Nobel peace laureate, will likely coincide with one by Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit to be held in Yokohama on Nov. 13-14.
Arguing that it would be ''very, very harmful'' if China remains a secretive society where censorship is tightly enforced, the Dalai Lama said, ''China, sooner or later, you have to open. It's the only way.''
He also noted that because China is the most populous country and is now economically very strong, it must gain trust from the international community, including such neighbors as Japan and India, to ''make a significant, constructive contribution to the world.''
The spiritual leader expressed concern about China's policy of effectively banning teaching in the Tibetan language in schools, which has provoked protests in Tibetan-populated areas.
''One of my main concerns is, inside Tibet, whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place,'' he said. ''These are quite serious.''
The Dalai Lama's visit could affect the likelihood of talks between Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Hu on the sidelines of the regional leaders' meeting.
Relations between Japan and China remain tense, in part because of a possible leak of videos showing collisions between a Chinese fishing boat and Japan Coast Guard patrol boats near disputed islands in the East China Sea.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is scheduled to stay in Japan until Nov. 16, with plans to give lectures in such places as Osaka, Nara and Ehime prefectures.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on Nov.6, 2010)
Liu is ''not toppling government but trying to bring more openness, more accountability,'' he told reporters near Narita airport outside Tokyo after his arrival to attend a three-day meeting of Nobel peace laureates from Nov. 12 in Hiroshima.
The visit by the Dalai Lama, himself a Nobel peace laureate, will likely coincide with one by Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit to be held in Yokohama on Nov. 13-14.
Arguing that it would be ''very, very harmful'' if China remains a secretive society where censorship is tightly enforced, the Dalai Lama said, ''China, sooner or later, you have to open. It's the only way.''
He also noted that because China is the most populous country and is now economically very strong, it must gain trust from the international community, including such neighbors as Japan and India, to ''make a significant, constructive contribution to the world.''
The spiritual leader expressed concern about China's policy of effectively banning teaching in the Tibetan language in schools, which has provoked protests in Tibetan-populated areas.
''One of my main concerns is, inside Tibet, whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place,'' he said. ''These are quite serious.''
The Dalai Lama's visit could affect the likelihood of talks between Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Hu on the sidelines of the regional leaders' meeting.
Relations between Japan and China remain tense, in part because of a possible leak of videos showing collisions between a Chinese fishing boat and Japan Coast Guard patrol boats near disputed islands in the East China Sea.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is scheduled to stay in Japan until Nov. 16, with plans to give lectures in such places as Osaka, Nara and Ehime prefectures.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on Nov.6, 2010)
