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George W Bush risks Chinese ire with Dalai Lama award

Other News Materials 15 October 2007 04:18 (UTC +04:00)

( Timesonline ) - President Bush will this week become the first sitting US President to appear publicly with the Dalai Lama, a move that has alarmed China at a time of increased tensions between Tibetan monks and Beijing.

Mr Bush will also play host to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader at the White House tomorrow before attending a ceremony on Wednesday where the Dalai Lama will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the US Congress's highest civilian honour .

In their two previous meetings, Mr Bush - like other presidents - met the Dalai Lama in private to avoid offending China, which accuses him of being a separatist intent on winning Tibetan independence from Beijing.

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