China warned the international community Tuesday of the dangerous motives of the Dalai Lama after he met with pop star Lady Gaga while in the U.S.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader was at the U.S. Conference of Mayors where he ran into and chatted with Lady Gaga, who posted photos and videos of the meeting in Indianapolis. The two talked about human kindness and compassion.
Chinese citizens and the government alike were unhappy with the event.
"The purpose of his visits and activities in other countries is just to promote his proposal for Tibetan independence," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a news briefing Monday.
Chinese citizens have expressed outrage over the meeting on the internet, denouncing Lady Gaga, who is popular with many young Chinese. Many foreign artists have been put on China's blacklist for similar meetings with the spiritual leader.
China sees the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist. Earlier this month the Chinese denounced a meeting between him and President Obama.
The Dalai Lama has advocated for a middle way — not asking for independence from China for Tibet, but for more autonomy.
Dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China's central government stopped in 2010. Tibetans re-elected the prime minister of their government-in-exile in May, and they maintain hope that talks with China to give Tibet more autonomy can resume.
