BEIJING -- China accused the United States on Thursday of encouraging Tibetan independence activists after President Bush offered the Dalai Lama his strong support at a meeting in Washington.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also accused Tibet's exiled spiritual leader of being insincere about negotiations with Beijing -- in contrast to Bush's praise for the 1989 Nobel Peace laureate's efforts to start a dialogue with Chinese leaders.
"The Dalai Lama is not a purely religious person, but an exiled politician who has long been conducting activities to split the motherland," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a news conference.
The Dalai Lama met Bush on Wednesday as he neared the end of a nine-city tour of the United States, where he has been speaking about China's suppression of Tibetan nationalism.
Although the Dalai Lama has met previous U.S. presidents, Bush went further than his predecessor by hosting the 30-minute meeting in the Yellow Oval Room in the White House residence.
"This is conniving at and supporting Tibetan independence forces and interfering in China's internal affairs," Zhu said.
The meeting is one of a host of issues which have severely strained U.S.-China relations since the April 1 collision of a U.S. spy plane with a Chinese jet fighter.
Zhu said the United States had made "irresponsible remarks" about Tibet.
"The Chinese side has made solemn representations to the U.S. government, expressing strong discontent and resolute opposition," he said.
"The Chinese government asked the U.S. government to obey the basic norms of international relations, correct its errors and stop using Tibetan issues to meddle in China's internal affairs."
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in northern India since escaping from Tibet in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule.
He says he is campaigning for greater autonomy for Tibet, not independence, and has long sought a dialogue with Chinese officials over his homeland's future.
But Beijing says the Dalai Lama must stop advocating Tibetan independence, end separatist activities and accept that Tibet and Taiwan are part of Chinese sovereign territory before talks can start.
"The Dalai's conduct has proven that he lacks sincerity about negotiating with the central government," Zhu said.
The Buddhist monk's meeting with Bush took place on the same day China marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of what it calls an agreement for the "peaceful liberation of Tibet."
Exiled Tibetans say the 1951 agreement was forced upon the Tibetan government and was invalid.
China argues it has brought Tibet out of the middle ages and vastly improved the economic conditions of a people once mostly serfs living in misery.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush had vowed to encourage China to engage the Dalai Lama in a dialogue.
Fleischer said the meeting was not meant to signify any policy change toward Beijing, but said Bush would not change his feelings about certain issues regarding China.
