Dismissing the Dalai Lama's charge that it was training woman agents to kill him, China on Monday said his allegation was "groundless" and "not worth refuting" while its state-run media accused him of playing an "insidious trick".
"In a religious cloak, the Dalai Lama has engaged in anti-China separatist activity internationally. He has been spreading rumours to draw public attention," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
"His sensational allegations are not worth refuting," he told a media briefing when asked about the Dalai Lama's allegation in an interview to a British daily that Chinese agents were training some Tibetan women to poison him while seeking his blessings.
Asked to elaborate on his comments, Hong said it was a "groundless remark" by the Dalai.
The Tibetan spiritual leader was quoted as saying that "some Chinese agents training some Tibetans, especially women, you see, using poison -- the hair poisoned, and the scarf poisoned -- they were supposed to seek blessing from me, and my hand touch."
The state-run Global Times, however, accused the Dalai Lama of playing an insidious trick.
"If the central government wanted to 'eliminate' the Dalai Lama, why has it waited for such a long time? Isn't it foolish to take action against Dalai at such an old age?" it said in its editorial titled 'Dalai assassination claims mind boggling'.
"Some believe he is playing an insidious trick. He could use his claims as an excuse for any diseases he has in the future. Even if he dies of a normal illness, the speculation would be that he was poisoned," it said.
