World Tibet Network News Saturday, February 21, 1998

HONG KONG, Feb. 21 (Kyodo) -- The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, will visit Taiwan in mid-August to participate in Buddhist-related events, Taiwan's semiofficial Central News Agency said in a report monitored in Hong Kong on Saturday.

If the visit occurs, it will be the Dalai Lama's first trip to Taiwan since March 1997.

During his last visit to Taipei, the Dalai Lama met with President Lee Teng-hui. China bitterly criticized the Dalai Lama for traveling to Taiwan, labeling him a "splittist," which he has denied.

In Taiwan's capital, preparations are underway to open a Tibetan representative office.

The Dalai Lama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after an abortive anti-Chinese uprising.