Special: Focus on Tibet
BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese media
are criticizing French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama
in Poland over the weekend.
The People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist
Party of China, ran an editorial on Sunday which said the purpose of the
meeting, despite China's opposition, was to shift domestic attention away from a
gloomy economy in France, high unemployment rate and waning support for
presidency.
"Sarkozy was absolutely miscalculating as he tried to
undermine the core interests of China so as to win domestic support, which will
eventually damage the interests of the people in France and Europe," wrote Zhong
Sheng.
Sarkozy held a half-hour meeting with the Dalai Lama
on Saturday in the Polish city of Gdansk. It made him the first European head of
state to meet the Dalai Lama while holding EU's rotating presidency.
The action garnered repeated protests by China.
"A Politician like Sarkozy is fully aware of the
sensitivity of issues relating to Tibet," Zhong said, adding Sarkozy would pay a
heavy price for his provocative act.
On Monday, an editorial in Oriental Outlook, a
popular weekly, said "French and EU leaders know very well where China stands
when it comes to issues relating to Tibet," Zhang Zhengdong wrote.
"China has always firmly opposed any secessionist
activities carried out by the Dalai Lama and opposed any contact with the Dalai
Lama by foreign leaders in whatever form. Even if some of the common citizens in
the EU do not see China's stance on Tibet-related issues, their leaders sure
can."
Zhang went on to write, "It is well acknowledged by
the international community, including France and the EU, that Tibet is a part
of China and the Tibet-related issues are China's internal affairs."
"China views France as a major force in the world,
and has never done anything against the interests of France. The current
difficult situation between China and France is the sole result of the
misconduct of the French leader," the magazine said.
Taikunpao, a Hong Kong-based newspaper, ran a
commentary on Tuesday which said friendship and cooperation between China and
France accumulated over decades.
Ma Haoliang went on to write, Sarkozy had "over
drafted trust and endurance from China to simply gain more say among the
European nations, to exalt himself to a moral high ground."
"China is not a credit card for Sarkozy. His repeated
overdraft of trust will place Sino-French relations in bad debt," the paper
said.
Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned the French
Ambassador to China, Herve Ladsous, on Sunday evening to lodge a strong protest
about the meeting, according to the Foreign Ministry.
China said, "France should bear full responsibility
for the matter."
Sarkozy's meeting with Dalai Lama
grossly interferes in China's internal affairs
BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday expressed
strong indignation and firm objections to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's
meeting with the Dalai Lama on Saturday in Poland.
"The French side's wrong action grossly interfered in
China's internal affairs and also severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese
people," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao in a press release.
Full story
China lodges strong protest to France
over Dalai Lama meeting
BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday lodged a
strong protest against French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai
Lama, saying it "severely undermined China's core interest".
Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei summoned French
Ambassador to China Herve Ladsous on Sunday evening, lodging a strong protest,
according to the Foreign Ministry. Full story
Sarkozy's meeting with Dalai Lama an
unwise move detrimental to Sino-French ties
BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Despite China's repeated
persuasions and representations, French President Nicolas Sarkozy insisted on
meeting Saturday with the Dalai Lama, who is on a Europe tour.
This development is indeed an unwise move which not
only hurts the feelings of the Chinese people, but also undermines Sino-French
ties. Full story
