Published by: World Tibet Network News Thursday, September 5, 1996

BEIJING, Sept 5 (AFP) - Strengthened relations between Beijing and Canberra were in jeopardy Thursday as China warned Australia to stop interfering in its two most sensitive regions -- Tibet and Taiwan.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang warned Canberra not to forge any official links with Taiwan and not to afford Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, any official meetings during his upcoming visit to Australia.

"Political and economic relations between China and Australia have made great progress. In such circumstances, Australia should not interfere in China's internal affairs," he said.

Asked about the ongoing visit of Australian Energy Minister John Anderson to Taiwan, Shen warned any official links between Canberra and Taipei would affect Canberra's relations with Beijing.

"We do not want to see any official links between Australia and Taiwan," he said.

While he refrained from labelling Anderson's trade mission as an official link, Shen went on to issue a second warning against Australian officials meeting with the Dalai Lama, who has been in exile since 1959.

"The Dalai Lama is not purely a religious figure. He is a political exile ... and giving him such treatment constitutes an interference in the internal affairs of China," he said.

The two warnings came after visits last month to China by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Vice Premier Tim Fischer, which both sides described as helpful in deepening relations.

However, Downer confirmed during his visit that he would meet with the Dalai Lama despite strong warnings from China.

Since his return to Australia, Downer has also confirmed that Canberra is considering exporting uranium to Taiwan -- a move which could further complicate the situation.

Tibet and Taiwan remain China's two most sensitive issues.

Beijing considers Taiwan as part of China and will not allow any nations that recognize Beijing to enter into official relations with the island.

It has also launched a vicious campaign against the Dalai Lama and accuses him of instigating ethnic unrest in Tibet, which Beijing "liberated" in 1951.