Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday November 12 1997

By HARBAKSH SINGH NANDA

NEW DELHI, Nov. 12 (UPI) _ China has strongly reacted to the upcoming Indian visit of U.S. special coordinator on Tibet, saying Beijing does not expect New Delhi to allow anti-China activities on its soil.

The United States recently appointed special coordinator on Tibet Gregory Craig is accompanying Secretary of State Madeline Albright during her visit beginning Tuesday. He is expected to meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

The Asian Age newspaper quotes a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, as saying, ``India is a sovereign state, they know our position about the Dalai Lama, they cannot allow the Dalai Lama to carry on anti-China activities here.''

Criticizing Craig's appointment, the spokesperson said, ``It is interference in China's internal affairs.''

Washington had timed the announcement of Craig during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's recent visit to the United States.

While Beijing wants New Delhi to stop any meeting between Craig and the Dalai Lama, India's foreign ministry says it will not impose any restrictions on the U.S. delegation's program.

India has been home for the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers who fled Tibet following a failed uprising of 1959.

India and China fought a war in 1962 but recently the tension between the two nations has thawed.