China warns India over Tibetan lama

BEIJING, Jan 11 (Reuters) - China told India on Tuesday to tread carefully over the issue of a high-ranking Tibetan lama who trekked to India last week and may seek asylum there.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao also repeated China's official explanation that the 14-year-old Karmapa Lama left Tibet to collect symbolic ritual implements, leaving the door open for his return.

But Beijing showed no sign of softening its policy towards the Dalai Lama, and state media quoted Premier Zhu Rongji and another top official calling for stricter implementation of religious policies.

The 17th Karmapa Lama, the only senior Tibetan Buddhist leader recognised by the Dalai Lama and Beijing, arrived in Dharamsala in northern India on January 5 after a week-long trek over the snowbound Himalayas from his monastery near Lhasa.

The Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala, said on Monday it hoped India would respond favourably if it sought asylum for the boy, who it said fled Tibet to avoid religious repression and human rights abuses.

NO OFFICIAL WORD FROM INDIA

Zhu said China had not yet received official confirmation that the Karmapa Lama was in India.

But he urged New Delhi to stick to the terms of bilateral agreements concerning the Dalai Lama who has lived in exile in India with thousands of Tibetan refugees since 1959.

``The Indian side has said in explicit terms that Tibet is an inalienable part of China. It has also stated that the Dalai clique cannot carry out political activities in India,'' Zhu said.

``We hope the Indian side can strictly honour its commitments on the relevant question so that bilateral relations can improve and develop,'' he said.

Asked why the boy had left Tibet, Zhu repeated a statement from the State Council, China's cabinet, that the boy had left Tibet to collect black hats and musical instruments that belonged to the previous Karmapa Lama.

CHINA STANCE UNCHANGED

The official Chinese reaction to the boy's escape indicates Beijing would be happy for him to return despite two meetings with the Dalai Lama, vilified by China as a violence-supporting ``splittist.''

Zhu gave no indication of any softening in Beijing's policy towards the Dalai Lama, but repeated its long-standing conditions for negotiations with him.

``The Dalai Lama should truly give up advocation of Tibetan independence, admit Tibet is an inalienable part of China, Taiwan is a province of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China represents the sole Chinese government,'' he said.

The Dalai Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, has said he advocates a non-violent campaign for genuine autonomy within China that would preserve and promote Tibetan culture, religion and language.

OFFICIALS URGE TIGHTER RELIGIOUS CONTROLS

The lama's escape is the latest in a series of blows to the Communist government's carefully constructed apparatus of control over organised religion -- exercised through a network of ``patriotic'' religious organisations.

Premier Zhu Rongji told a meeting of religious officials from such organisations to step up efforts to ensure support for the government among the faithful.

``In a country that boasts over 100 million religious followers, it is extremely important to rally them around the ruling Chinese Communist Party, the government and the modernisation drive,'' Xinhua quoted Zhu as saying.

Premier Zhu praised the efforts of religious leaders to promote political stability, economic development, ethnic unity and national reunification, the official news agency said.

Xinhua also quoted State Councillor Ismail Amat, a Uighur from the largely Moslem northwestern region of Xinjiang, as saying China would increase efforts to combat separatism in its border areas and infiltration by religious extremists.

State councillor is a rank between vice premier and cabinet minister.

Freedom of religion is enshrined in the Chinese constitution but religious groups accuse Beijing of persecuting those who worship outside ``official'' churches.