China Warns U.S. on Dalai Lama Award

Some might ask why would China care about a tiny country of Tibet, a seemingly harmless pacifistic guy called Dalai Lama and a bunch of 15 year old boys? The Dalai Lama is seen as the spiritual leader of many Buddhists around the world. Those Buddhists make up a large proportion of China's restive population. China is a totalitarian state because those in power don't believe they can hold together China as a democracy. It seems likely that all the diverse cultures of China would rebel and fracture the state along the lines of the Soviet Union. China's leadership sees it's strength and future in a united China. It's population is concerned about mundane things like food and shelter.
They see the Dalai Lama and his successor as a potent key in the future subjugation of it's Buddhist population.
New York Times

Chinese officials warned the United States not to honor the Dalai Lama, saying a planned award ceremony for the Tibetan spiritual leader would have “an extremely serious impact” on relations between the two countries.


Speaking at a Foreign Ministry briefing and on the sidelines of the Communist Party’s ongoing 17th National Congress, the officials condemned the Dalai Lama as a resolute separatist and said foreign leaders must stop encouraging his “splittist” mission.


“Such a person who basely splits his motherland and doesn’t even love his motherland has been welcomed by some countries and has even been receiving this or that award,” Tibet’s Communist Party boss, Zhang Qingli, told reporters during the congress.


“We are furious,” Mr. Zhang said. “If the Dalai Lama can receive such an award, there must be no justice or good people in the world.”


The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile since the Chinese army crushed an uprising in his homeland in 1959, is revered as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is scheduled to receive the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday after President Bush hosts him at the White House today.


China has pressed the United States to cancel the award event for months. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao said today that Beijing was “strong dissatisfied” and warned of an “extremely serious impact” if the events are held as scheduled. But he did not say what steps China planned to take.


[..]Ethnic tensions have risen in Tibet in recent months, prompting tough police action.


Rights groups said a group of Tibetan boys were detained in the northwestern province of Gansu last month after they were accused of scribbling slogans on walls calling for the Dalai Lama’s return.


Four of the boys, all 15 years old, were still in detention. Police had used electric prods on them and were demanding payment for their release, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say.