The U.S. Congress plans to give the Dalai Lama its highest award bestowed upon a civilian, and the Chinese government has condemned the move. Adding to the potential sources of ire for Beijing is the fact the U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife will be present when the honor is handed out at the Capitol next week. Given the official displeasure that was expressed after German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the Tibetan spiritual leader last month, Bush’s move will mean more remonstrations from Beijing are likely to follow.
It seems like the official sensitivity in Beijing to the Dalai Lama, who is always a fairly touchy subject here, has been heightened in recent days. There was a piece yesterday in the China Daily about the Dalai Lama linking him to the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, and the People’s Daily overseas edition ran an op-ed accusing him of betraying Buddhism. Reuters also reports on an internal Communist Party document that questions the loyalty of ethnic Tibetans who are members of the Communist Party.
The Communist Party’s five-year meeting, at which the top level of leadership will be named, kicks off Monday. The Chinese capital is preoccupied with the intense political maneuvering, which makes the timing another ingredient in this diplomatic storm. Stay tuned.