(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-22 20:48

BEIJING - China on Tuesday said US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky's weekend meeting with the Dalai Lama and her relevant remarks were extremely wrong and irresponsible, and was interference into China's domestic affairs.

"The under secretary insisted to meet with the Dalai Lama regardless of China's firm opposition, and make irresponsible remarks on the Tibet affairs, which is entirely China's internal affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said.

She said the US move has "grossly violated the basic principles of the international relations" and that China had made solemn representations to the US side.

She said the violent crimes in Lhasa on March 14 were masterminded by the Dalai clique and incited by "Tibet independence" forces at both home and abroad.

"No exculpation can conceal the irrefutable fact. The under secretary didn't condemn the crimes of the rioters, but absolved them of responsibility and takes the Chinese government and the people as targets. What does she want to achieve?"

Jiang urged the United States to respect the facts, correctly judge the situation, and stop supporting and conniving the secessionist activities of the Dalai clique, so as to avoid damages to the Sino-US relations and the image of America itself.

Dobriansky held a meeting with the Dalai Lama on Monday in the US state of Michigan and filed an editorial in the Washington Post, in which she unfairly criticized China's policy in Tibet.

Hundreds of Chinese Americans and Chinese nationals working or studying in the United States gathered in Michigan on Sunday to protest against the crimes and violence orchestrated by the Dalai clique and voiced support for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

Demonstrations against Tibet separatists' attempts to sabotage China's sovereignty and the forthcoming Beijing Olympics have been held in a series of US cities as the Dalai Lama toured the country.