China slams US appeal on Tibet

China today rejected the latest  US plea to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama without  "preconditions," describing it as an "interference" in its internal affairs, and asked the Tibetan spiritual leader to publicly declare that Tibet was an "inalienable" part of China as that could pave the way for negotiations.

The Chinese Government's policy towards the Dalai Lama  was clear, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue  said here while restating Beijing's preconditions for talks  with the Dharamshala-based exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

"Only when the Dalai Lama really gives up his pursuit for 'Tibet independence,' stops separatist activities against China, declares in public that he recognises Tibet is an  inalienable part of China and so is Taiwan, will we contact  him for negotiations," she said.

Zhang's terse statement came after the US State Department submitted its second presidential report to Congress on the Tibet issue on June 23 in which it said Washington continues "to press both sides to open a dialogue  without preconditions."

Zhang emphasised that China strongly opposed the second US presidential report on the Tibet issue and urged Washington to stop making use of it to interfere in its internal affairs.

"Tibet is part of China and the Tibet issue is an internal affair of China. The US report, based on its domestic legislature and regardless of facts, made irresponsible remarks on China's Tibet affairs and rendered help to the Dalai Lama's separatist activities," she alleged.