World Tibet Network News Tuesday, April 07, 1998

TOKYO, April 7 (Kyodo) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan has expressed Beijing's displeasure at the Dalai Lama's visit to Japan in a recent meeting with his Japanese counterpart Keizo Obuchi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said Tuesday.

Muraoka quoted Tang as telling Obuchi in London last Friday that China hopes for Japan's consideration so as not to allow "issues" to hinder the smooth development of bilateral ties between the two nations.

At a news conference, however, Muraoka, the top government spokesman, said Tang did not elaborate on what those issues might be.

At the invitation of a Kyoto-based religious organization, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader and 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, arrived in Japan last Friday for a 10-day stay.

Late last month, Muraoka said the Dalai Lama's visit was not a diplomatic issue because he was coming to Japan for religious activities and that government officials had no plans to meet with him.

This is the fifth visit to Japan by the Dalai Lama, the last being in March 1995. The government has never rejected his applications for visas, Muraoka said, adding that a short-stay visa was issued this time.

Last Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Japan not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit, saying Tokyo should "refrain from offering any venue for him to conduct 'splittist' activities."

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese occupation. He has since established a government-in-exile in India, from which he has called for greater autonomy and religious freedom for his homeland.