Behind the scene: Dalai Lama’s Taiwan visit
August 28th, 2009 - 4:29 pm ICT by ANITaipei, Aug. 28 (ANI): Taiwan’s decision to overlook an angry Beijing and invite the Dalai Lama to visit the victims of typhoon Morakot was aimed at pacifying the wrath of southern Taiwanese, the Christian Science Monitor reports.
In December, President Ma Ying-jeou had said that “the timing wasn’t appropriate” for Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit to Taiwan.
According to the report, relations between Taiwan and China were better than ever last year, and Ma didn’t want to upset the apple cart by hosting the man Beijing reviles as a “splittist” who heads up a treasonous “clique.”
But today, when typhoon has taken 650 lives, Taiwan can benefit from a host of celebrity visits, fundraisers, and sympathy.
Clearly, the timing of a Dalai Lama’s visit is much more perfect.
In fact, the opposition, which controls much of the typhoon-hit southern Taiwan, had invited the Dalai Lama.
Hence, Taiwanese President was forced to pick one of two bad options: Allow Dalai Lama’s visit and harm recent-close relations with Chin, or refuse him, and incur southerners’ wrath.
Evidently, Ma chose Beijing’s fury. (ANI)
- Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan to meet typhoon survivors (Lead, Changing dateline) - Aug 27, 2009
- Dalai Lama may visit Taiwan: Prez - Aug 27, 2009
- Taiwan approves Dalai Lama visit - Aug 27, 2009
- Taiwan asks Dalai Lama to keep politics out of his visit - Sep 02, 2009
- Taiwan taking pains to make Dalai Lama's visit non-political - Aug 28, 2009
- Dalai Lama urged to keep politics out during his Taiwan visit - Aug 31, 2009
- Dalai Lama wraps up sensitive Taiwan visit - Sep 04, 2009
- Dalai Lama arrives in Taiwan on controversial visit - Aug 30, 2009
- Taiwan, China launch regular cross-strait flights - Sep 01, 2009
- Dalai Lama holds prayers in Taiwan despite China protest - Sep 01, 2009
- Dalai Lama wraps up Taiwan visit (Lead) - Sep 04, 2009
- Taiwan issues warning as Typhoon Fanapi approaches - Sep 18, 2010
- Dalai Lama urges China to adopt democracy - Sep 03, 2009
- Taiwan premier resigns (Lead) - Sep 07, 2009
- 300 buried alive in southern Taiwan village - Aug 14, 2009
Tags: apple cart, beijing, celebrity visits, china, christian science monitor, close relations, dalai lama, fundraisers, ma ying jeou, opposition, southern taiwan, southerners, sympathy, taipei, taiwan visit, taiwanese president, tibetan spiritual leader, typhoon morakot, wrath
