Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, August 20, 1996

CAPE TOWN, S. Africa, Aug. 20, 1996 (Kyodo) -- The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, will meet with South African President Nelson Mandela for talks in Cape Town on Thursday, a presidential spokesman said Tuesday.

The meeting is certain to further upset China, which claims Tibet as an integral part of its territory and has accused the Dalai Lama of promoting separatism.

China has been calling on South Africa, which recognizes Taipei as the legitimate Chinese government, to sever ties with Taiwan and switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing.

But Mandela has frustrated China by saying he is not thinking of breaking off South Africa's long-standing ties with Taiwan, while expressing willingness to open official ties with China.

The Dalai Lama arrived in South Africa on Sunday to attend a meeting of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, which groups religious leaders from some 60 countries.

China sent troops into Tibet in 1950, tightening its control over the Himalayan region. Following an unsuccessful uprising in March 1959, the Dalai Lama and some 100,000 of his supporters fled to northern India and set up a government-in-exile.