China opposes planned Obama-Dalai meeting

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday expressed firm opposition to the planned meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama.

"China resolutely opposes the visit by the Dalai Lama to the United States, and resolutely opposes the U.S. leader having contact with the Dalai Lama in any name or any form," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.

"This position is consistent and clear," Ma said.

Ma was responding to claims that Obama had told Chinese leaders about the meeting during his November visit to China.

"During President Obama's November visit to China, Chinese leaders had expressed China's solemn stance of opposing leaders and officials of any country meeting the Dalai Lama," said Ma.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said Tuesday that the U.S. president told China leaders during his trip last year that he intended to meet with the Dalai Lama.