China slammed the United States on Thursday for awarding the Dalai Lama one of its highest honours and summoned the US ambassador in Beijing to complain. The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing his predominantly Buddhist homeland in 1959 after a failed uprising against Communist rule, received the US Congressional Gold Medal from President George W Bush on Wednesday.China, that considers Dalai Lama a separatist, had already denounced the award as a “farce” which would strain relations between Beijing and Washington. “The move of the US is a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, hurts the feelings of the Chinese people and has gravely undermined relations between China and the United States,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Thursday and urged the US to take concrete steps to protect Sino-US relations.On Wednesday, Dalai Lama told a packed audience in the US Capitol he had “no hidden agenda” in seeking greater autonomy but not independence for his Himalayan homeland. He said Beijing’s depiction of his motives was “unfounded and untrue” and asked his US supporters to convince China he was sincere. The Dalai Lama is considered by Tibetans as their spiritual leader but allegiance to him risks harsh repression.
