BEIJING, March 13 (AFP) - Beijing reacted sharply Thursday to reports that the Dalai Lama may meet with Taiwanese President Lee Tung-hui during a trip to Taiwan this month.

"We stand firmly against any act in any form which is designed to split the motherland," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Cui Tiankai said in response to Lee's plans to dine with the Dalai Lama later in the month.

"The Taiwan authorities should adopt a prudent and sensible attitude and refrain from any actions to undermine the unity of the motherland or harm national solidarity," he added.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of counter-revolution and attempting to create independence for Tibet, and has frequently laid similar charges against Lee over Taiwan.

"Actually, everyone is very clear about the kind of man the Dalai Lama is," Cui said.

"His political reasons for going to Taiwan are also very clear," he added.

Taiwan's state-funded Central News Agency reported Wednesday that Lee planned to meet the Dalai Lama when he visits the nationalist island later this month and host a banquet for him.

Lee said he would like to exchange views with the Tibetan spiritual leader on religious and philosophical issues, but added that further discussions and arrangements would be needed if the meeting were to go ahead.

The Dalai Lama flies to Taiwan on March 22 at the invitation of a Taiwanese Buddhist organization.

A Nobel Peace Prize winner, he has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following an abortive anti-Chinese uprising.

Lee sparked China's ire in 1995 by arranging a trip to the United States.

During his election campaign the following year, Beijing launched intimidatory war games near the island and frequently accused him of promoting official independence for Taiwan.

Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 at the end of a bloody civil war, although both sides still hold reunification as their ultimate goal.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister John Chang had previously said he would not meet the Dalai Lama so as not to further strain ties with Beijing.