Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, March 26, 1997

TAIPEI, March 24 (AFP) - Taiwan newspapers on Monday hailed the landmark visit of the Dalai Lama to the island as a courageous move by the political leadership but tempered it with warnings not to incur China's wrath.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has preached to tens of thousands of people since arriving on his first visit to Taiwan on Saturday, which has sparked fiery warnings from Beijing that he is conspiring with Taiwanese leaders.

All his public appearances have been televised live, and so far he has focused on religious activities, spreading his Buddhist teachings and preaching about peace and tolerance.

"The Dalai Lama's visit is a truly significant and uplifting occasion for many people in Taiwan not only for followers of his spiritual teachings and exiled Tibetans, but also for reflective people of other convictions who respect the wisdom of his thought," wrote the English-language China News.

It likened the fervour surrounding his appearances to a visit by Pope John Paul II to a Catholic county.

"Fortunately, Taiwan's political leadership has had the sense not to mention the courage to recognize the Dalai Lama's statute and accommodate him as best they could ...," the paper added.

It is the first time the exiled Tibetan leader has visited Taiwan, viewed by China as a renegade province since nationalist forces fled here after the 1949 civil war.

And despite efforts to stress the religious nature of the six-day visit, it has been loaded with political symbolism striking right at the heart of debate here on whether Taiwan should be seeking independence or re-unification with China.

But the controversy was dismissed by a former Taiwan ambassador, Bernard Joei writing in the China Post who said the critics were overreacting.

"No matter what the Dalai Lama's goals of visiting are ..... (Taiwan) remains fully entitled to exercise its rights by inviting him here.

"It could be said that his presence in Taiwan is part of a series of effors by the government here best labelled 'self-affirmation'."

He warned though that the campaign for self-affirmation should not be taken too far "lest Taipei risk unnecessarily provoking Beijing into taking unreasonable action aaginst Taiwan, Tibet or both."

The Chinese daily the United Daily News reported Monday quoting intelligence sources that Beijing may hold war games on its southeastern coast next month, but it was unsure whether the move was related to the Dalai Lama's visit.

Professor Chen Jo-hsi from the Central University writing in United Daily News also hailed the Dalai Lam's visit saying it was a "great contribution" to Taiwan Buddhists.

While another writer Sun Hsiang-lan urged Taiwanese not to misunderstand Tibetans and not to use the visit for political or monetary profit.