In a meeting with visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the Chinese President Hu Jintao has said that China’s contention with the Dalai Lama clique is basically pegged on the question of national unity and has nothing to do with ethnicity, religion or human rights. President Hu Jintao also said that he was ready for a dialogue with Dalai Lama, provided he keeps away from trying to ‘split the motherland’, ‘incite violence’ and ‘ruin the Beijing Olympics’.

 

The Chinese President has made these remarks highlighting China’s unhappiness with foreign critics on the Tibet issue. China also denounces the European Parliament's call to boycott the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics incase Beijing does not start talks with the Dalai Lama about Tibet. President Hu’s remark shows the Tibet troubles as an existential threat to the country. The Chinese premier stressed upon the fact that Tibet issue was a problem of either preserving national unity or splitting the motherland.

 

The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, on the other hand, has rejected China’s claims that he is responsible for the torrid rioting in Tibet's regional capital Lhasa and subsequent protests across Tibet. When questioned by a US television news channel as to whether or not he wanted to boycott the Olympics this summer, the Dalai Lama said ‘no’. We are not against you and I'm not seeking separation, was what he had to say to China.