China's Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao summoned the British ambassador in Beijing on Tuesday to protest British Prime Minister David Cameron's meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying the meeting "seriously interfered" with China's internal affairs.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, who is considered a separatist by Beijing, met with Cameron on Monday. The meeting was, however, not held at Cameron's official Downing St residence in a gesture to Chinese sensibilities. Song summoned British ambassador Sebastian Wood and said that British leaders should fully consider the "serious consequences" of meeting the Dalai Lama, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It said the meeting "seriously interfered with China's internal affairs, undermined China's core interests, and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people". Song urged Britain to take "practical actions to correct the error". China's response echoed many previous statements about the Dalai Lama's meetings with foreign political leaders, suggesting that China will confine its reaction to angry words. "British ministers believe that who they see is a matter for them," said a British Foreign Office spokeswoman in London. "If they choose to see someone, it does not necessarily indicate they support that individual's viewpoint."