Merkel Angers China Over Tibet

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, went ahead with an informal meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama yesterday, despite China canceling a meeting between a German minister and Chinese officials in an apparent expression of disapproval.

China had issued a warning to Berlin this week saying that if the meeting at Ms Merkel's chancellery went ahead it was in danger of damaging relations between the two countries, saying the Dalai Lama was using it to further his political ambitions.

Ms Merkel ignored her advisers who told her to cancel the meeting rather than incur the wrath of Beijing, which could damage the two countries' thriving business relationship.

Yesterday China canceled a meeting in Munich planned between the justice minister, Brigitte Zypries, and Beijing officials to discuss legal affairs. While the Chinese government said "technical reasons" were to blame, the move was widely interpreted as a sign of tension over Ms Merkel's decision.

In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Dalai Lama said: "What I appreciate about Ms Merkel is her steady engagement on human rights and religious freedom. Perhaps that's why she wants to see me, in spite of all the pressure from China."