HONG KONG, Sept. 30, 1996 (Kyodo) -- Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui fully welcomes a possible visit to Taiwan by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, to perhaps take place in December, a Taiwan daily reported Monday.

According to high-level Taiwan government sources, the government has adopted a new position and now thoroughly welcomes a visit by the Dalai Lama to the island, the China Times reported.

The sources also said the government has decided to invite the Dalai Lama, the Chinese-language paper said.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 following an unsuccessful uprising by Tibetans opposed to Chinese rule. He has campaigned for Tibet's autonomy and in 1989 won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Most nations recognize Tibet as part of China, and Beijing considers the Dalai Lama to be a separatist troublemaker. However, the spiritual leader has now renounced demands for complete independence and in 1988 proposed that Tibet become a self-governing Chinese territory in all respects except foreign affairs.

Taiwan also considers Tibet to be part of China even though the mainland and Taiwan have been archrivals since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province.

Submitted by trcseattle@igc.apc.org (Tibetan Rights Campaign - Seattle)