Monday, 9 April, 2001, 07:54 GMT 08:54 UK

China renews attack on Dalai Lama

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has concluded his ten-day visit Taiwan amid a fresh outburst of heavy criticism from China.

The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, said his visit to the island was an attempt by pro-independence forces in Taiwan and Tibet to split China.

But the Dalai Lama said he believed it was his responsibility to visit his Buddhist followers in Taiwan.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which it sees as a renegade province and Beijing refuses to talk to the Dalai Lama about his desire to see autonomy for Tibet.

'Collaboration'

China's state-run media has said the Dalai Lama has been raising money to support Tibetan independence.

An official commentary published by the Xinhua news agency said that Taiwan authorities' allowance of the so-called "pure religious visit" , indicated once again that "it has no intention of improving cross-straits relations but, instead, is intending to damage the ties".

The article said that the Dalai clique has collaborated with pro-independence forces in Taiwan for a long time.

It said Tibetan leaders who fled after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959 "sent people to Taiwan in pursuit of support to their activities to spit the motherland".

During his visit, the Dalai Lama met Taiwan's leaders and was greeted by large enthusiastic crowds.

He twice met Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian and also met Vice President Annette Lu and the Prime Minister, Chang Chung-hsiung.

It is thought he may have raised about $500,000 for his religious funds during the trip.

Lectures

The Dalai Lama stressed that Taiwan's future should be decided by the Taiwanese people.

But he told the Taiwanese that they have a "moral obligation" as members of a free society.

"You should speak truthfully, honestly, whether about good things or bad things" he said.

The Dalai Lama spent most of his trip giving Buddhist lectures at a stadium outside Taipei.

The BBC's Damian Grammaticas, reporting from Taipei, said 20,000 people filled the stadium every day for a week to hear him lecture and teach.

The Dalai Lama insisted throughout his visit to Taiwan that he was making it for religious reasons.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001