Obama to meet Dalai Lama despite tensions
President Barack Obama has confirmed plans to meet with the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama.† Chinese officials denounced the plans, warning such a meeting would increase deep tensions between itself and the United States.† President Hu Jintao of China personally chided Obamaís plans during a Beijing-based summit last November.† China regards the Dalai Lama as the leader of a separatist movement for an independent Tibet.
The meeting follows months of diplomatic flare-ups between the two states, highlighted by a recently announced $6.4 billion U.S. weapons package for Taiwan and currency and trade protectionism debates.