China criticises PM Modi, Blinken for greeting Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday

Highlights China criticised PM Modi for greeting the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday Beijing said India should stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs Modi greeted the Dalai Lama over the phone as he turned 87 on Wednesday China on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greeting the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday, saying India should stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs. Reacting to a question on Modi's greetings, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing that "the Indian side should fully recognise the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama." It should abide by its "commitment to China, speak and act prudently and stop using Tibet related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs," Zhao said. "We urge the US side to have full understanding of the important and sensitive nature of the Tibet related issues, respect China's core interests, have a clear understanding of the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group and abide by its commitment on Tibet related issues, stop engaging with Dalai Lama in any form and stop sending any wrong signal to the outside world," he said.