China says no...? To Australians in Australia, about who to have tea
with?

From BBC news...


Last Updated: Wednesday, 13 June 2007, 10:53 GMT 11:53 UK

Australia backs Dalai Lama visit
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Sydney

Dalai Lama in Melbourne
The Dalai Lama has been in exile from Tibet since 1959
Australia has brushed off criticism from China over a visit by the
exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Beijing should respect
Australia's democratic system.

He said the Dalai Lama would always be welcome in Australia, where he
was regarded as a religious figure and not a politician.

On Tuesday, China warned Australia that the visit could damage relations
between the two countries.

China is Australia's biggest trading partner, and Prime Minister John
Howard has been keen to stress that his government acknowledges Chinese
sovereignty over Tibet.

But China believes that its strong views on this very sensitive issue
have been ignored by the Australians.

A spokesman in Beijing said the Dalai Lama was not simply a religious
figurehead, but a political exile who was engaging in separatism and the
sabotage of Chinese unity.

Controversial meetings

China is likely to feel even more aggrieved later this week when Mr
Howard is scheduled to meet the 71-year-old monk.

The Dalai Lama has already held discussions with a group of
parliamentarians in Canberra and the leader of the federal opposition,
Kevin Rudd.

The spiritual leader has been urging countries like Australia to use its
economic muscle to pressure Beijing on human rights.

Thousands of Australians have attended events and rallies during his
tour.

A large crowd gathered to hear him talk about the environment at a zoo
in Queensland, which is run by the widow of the crocodile hunter, Steve
Irwin, who died last year and had strong ties to a local Buddhist
monastery.

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, went into exile in 1959
after a failed uprising against Communist rule in Tibet.

Dalai Lama warns against China containment
Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:52 PM IST148

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama warned major nations on Tuesday not
to try to contain China's economic and military rise, but urged
countries like Australia to use their trading clout to pressure Beijing
on human rights.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, speaking in Canberra, said he
shared concerns about growing strategic and trade ties between the
United States, India, Japan and Australia, which Beijing has interpreted
as moves towards encirclement.

"It is absolutely wrong to isolate China and also contain China. It's
wrong, morally also wrong," the Dalai Lama told the Australian National
Press Club.

"China must be brought into the mainstream of the world community, and
now fortunately China themselves want to join the world community. Most
welcome. Very good.

"However ... while you are making good relations, genuine friendship
with China, certain principles such as human rights and also democracy,
rule of law, free press, these things you should stand firm. That means
you are a true friend of China."

The United States, Japan and Australia have said their growing defence
ties are not aimed at containing China, even though India last month
joined the three in security talks.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard and pro-China opposition leader
Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday they would ignore pressure from Beijing's
Canberra embassy not to meet the Tibetan Buddhist leader, despite vague
warnings of repercussions.

After weeks of diary searching Howard found he could make time to meet
the visitor on Friday in Sydney. Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd, a
Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, went back on an earlier refusal and
met him on Tuesday at a Canberra hotel.

The Australia Tibet Council urged Rudd, who is riding high in the polls,
to support greater autonomy for Tibet if he won power in a general
election later this year.

"I would like Kevin Rudd to say ... 'we will use whatever influence we
have to raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese'," chairman George
Farley told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. China has overtaken
Japan as Australia's biggest trading partner, although Canberra's
strategic interests remain closely allied with those of Washington.

Australia's statistics office said in May that the nation's trade with
China had hit A$52.7 billion ($44.3 billion) in the year to March,
slightly surpassing bilateral exchanges with Japan as energy-hungry
China's demand for Australian resources continued.

The Dalai Lama, whom Beijing considers a separatist, admitted China's
fast-growing world influence was hampering his access to some world
leaders to press demands for greater autonomy, not independence, for his
predominantly Buddhist homeland.

But support for an autonomous Tibet was growing in the United States and
some small European nations, he said, although some nations were
understandably reluctant to cross China.

"I think the more serious concern, I think the public sympathy, public
concern, it seems like it's increasing," the Dalai Lama said, adding
that he was unconcerned if he did not secure a meeting with Howard.

"In my mind it's not that serious, but in their mind it seems very, very
serious," he said.

Thanks Lee! A post about something other than America! You are soooooo
hot!!!!

Hi,Lee!

Interesting.

The Dalai Lama comes to the US fairly often and I have not heard any
mention of a Chinese protest to the US. I wonder if it doesn't happen,
or the media does not report it.

How popular has the Dalai Lama become in Australia? Is there a Tibetan
Buddhist movement? Local monasteries/nunneries?



Oceans

Thanks Steve,

from ABC Radio..

Last Updated 13/06/2007, 21:29:36

Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, says the country's
relationship with China won't be impacted by the visit by Tibet's exiled
spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Ben Worsley reports the argument erupts every time the Dalai Lama
visits.

China is angry the Prime Minister's meeting the Dalai Lama on Friday.

It's warned its relationship with Australia could be harmed and it wants
future visits banned. Alexander Downer says that's not going to happen.

He's says the visit isn't political.

"The Dalai Lama is not using Australia as a platform to argue for an
independent Tibet."

Mr Downer says Australia's relationship with China is strong and based
on mutual benefit.

Hi,Lee!

Interesting.

The Dalai Lama comes to the US fairly often and I have not heard any
mention of a Chinese protest to the US. I wonder if it doesn't happen,
or the media does not report it.

How popular has the Dalai Lama become in Australia? Is there a Tibetan
Buddhist movement? Local monasteries/nunneries?



Oceans

Yes there are a number of tibetan buddhist monasteries, (retreats)
throughout Australia, Oceans, and the one referred to, in the second
post, close to Australia Zoo, is called Chenrezig.

Oooops...my server is a bit cranky -- big storm moving through.

I can understand the Dalai Lama, not finding it that important to speak
with John Howard the Australian Prime Minister, as we have a Federal
election later this year...

And as with other parts of the world, support for the war in Iraq has
waned dramatically, and this Prime Minister placed us in it...


(I don't expect him to be re-elected, and perhaps, pure conjecture here,
neither does the Dalai Lama)

I know it is simplistic but I make no apologies. Freedom of religion. It
does make the news when the Dalai Lama visits. Not sure why the Chinese
don't complain other than the probability that nobody here would care if
they did.

Let the Dali Lama come here as a political and religious figure, too
many things in my house say 'made in _______ (not America'

i am just learrning the computer so if you dont hear from me for a few
days dont be alarmed its just my brain hasnt kicked in yet. i would like
to say hello to all that has visited my site and thank you for leaving
me with your mail

Thank you Lee....
The only comment that I have to make...is that americans that do not
believe in American policy...there are just as many chinese ...if not
more...that do not believe in the policy of the Chinese
government....and I as an American.....care
Again...thank you Lee

Oh!! JJ, i hope this thread doesn't imply I am lumping the people, the
population of China, in with the politics...it is not my intent.

I just found it very interesting that a trade partner can attempt to
dictate their political agendas to other countries...

It seems to be the way, of recent years...and I wonder how free we
really are, whose government makes the decisions for the country we live
in?

Hence, the who pulls the strings question..

Not at all Lee...I was also posting to another that had made a
comment...I felt no negativity from you...goodness sakes...I appreciate
the thread...

JJ, my comment was aimed at the Chinese government, not its people.
Without going into it in depth, government bad, people good.

Thank you Zap...appreciate the clarification...I must have taken it
wrong

But I would like to make a comment as I have a little first hand
knowledge here...that although the citizens may not like the government
policies, they also have little knowledge of the world around them and
how their country is percieved. The vast majority of the news very
sensored here...I myself get very little news of the outside world as
the Great Firewall of china exists...I get more knowlege here in these
threads than anywhere...

While I have no malice for the Chinese or any other peoples for that
matter, I directed a comment toward a government and not its people.
Maybe others (you out there Fred? ) are commenting on the
American government and we are mis....... aw crap! I can't seem to
explain my thoughts. Too tired. Hope someone can smell what I'm stepping
in and run with it.

Hey Zap...

Perhaps one day all the 'people' around the world will tell there
goverments to toe the line.

People have far more power than a government does. Ever seen a flock of
birds drive of a falcon?

That falcon may have all the weapons and the predetors instinct but he
ain't no match for a simple flock of sparrows.