Taiwan has approved a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader next week to comfort victims of a typhoon, the government said today.
Taiwan last year turned away the Dalai Lama on fears of upsetting China. In a statement today, China said it was "resolutely opposed" to the visit.
Beijing brands the India-based Tibetan luminary as a separatist and condemns his trips abroad.
"We've . . . decided to let the Dalai Lama visit as he is coming here to pray for the dead victims, as well as the survivors," President Ma Ying-jeou told reporters while visiting typhoon survivors.
The president's office, under fire for perceptions his response to typhoon Morakot was too slow, and national security officials decided in a meeting yesterday to permit a visit from August 31st to September 3rd, the Government Information Office said.
The Chinese government may be unlikely to retaliate with any steps that could choke off growing bilateral trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Chinese public opinion is easily riled by shows of support for the Dalai Lama, but Beijing is also aware any strong moves could play into the hands of Taiwan opponents of President Ma, who has sought to ease tensions with Beijing.
"President Ma has done the right thing after a long, long time," said Khedroob Thondup, a Taipei-based member of the Tibetan parliament in exile. "If they refused His Holiness, there would have been a backlash."
The Dalai Lama was always eager to visit Taiwan and is looking forward to the trip, his aide said from the Indian hill town of Dharamsala, headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
"The main purpose for the visit is to comfort the typhoon victims and offer prayers," Tenzin Taklha said today.
Reuters