Beijing, Feb 2 (IANS) Sino-US ties would be damaged if US leaders meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, warned a senior Chinese official Tuesday and added that the move would “harm others but bring no profit to itself either”.
Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee said at a press conference that the US would violate international rules by meeting the Dalai Lama.

Such a move would be both irrational and harmful, Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

“If a country decides to do so, we will take necessary measures to help them realise this.”

He pointed out that the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama envoys had “sharply divided” views in the latest talks “as usual”.

“We have been accustomed to such a viewpoint confrontation as views had been divided in previous talks” between the central government and the private representatives of the Dalai Lama, the official said.

But he added the viewpoint confrontation also “had some upside” as it let both sides know what exactly were their differences were and how wide were the differences.

“It helps the Dalai Lama realise the position he has been in.”

The government wanted to “give the Dalai Lama a chance to correct his mistakes” by holding talks with his envoys, Zhu said.

Zhu stressed that the talks were not without result as the central government arranged trips for the envoys to visit central Hunan province to better understand the country and the ethnic autonomy policy.

Beijing had made it clear Monday that it would never make any concession on the issue of its sovereignty.

A statement from the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee referred to achievements made in Tibet “over the past years under the leadership of the CPC and reiterated that no concessions would be made on issues concerning China’s national sovereignty”.

The Dalai Lama’s envoys, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, had reached here Jan 26 for the ninth round of talks with the Chinese administration.

In November 2008, discussions between the two sides collapsed after China’s rejection of the Tibetan demands for autonomy.

The latest meeting followed a reshuffle of Chinese officials in Tibet, including the appointment of military veteran Pema Thinley as governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. His government-in-exile is not recognised by any country.