BEIJING
China has claimed that the Dalai Lama will not succeed in seeking political support, after criticizing a trip by the Tibetan spiritual leader to the United States.
"The Dalai Lama is seeking foreign support to realize his political ambition, which would never succeed," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing Friday.
China's national news agency Xinhua quoted reports as saying that U.S. President Barack Obama had welcomed the Dalai Lama at a "prayer breakfast" in Washington on Thursday, but did not meet him in person.
The country has long objected to world leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama and considers him a separatist.
"The Dalai Lama is a political exile who has been engaged in secessionist activities under the cloak of religion," said Hong.
