President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen said he admired the tenacity displayed by Tibet's exiled spiritual leader in resisting Beijing's demands that he publicly recognize that "Taiwan is a province of China" before seeking dialogue with the Chinese government.
"I'm glad you share my position that Taiwan's destiny should be up to its people to decide," Chen told the Dalai Lama at the Presidential Office yesterday morning.
The Dalai Lama has crusaded for greater autonomy for his homeland over the last five decades and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent approach. Chen, whose administration has suffered repeated setbacks in the opposition-dominated legislature, said he could look to the Nobel laureate as a role model.
"The adversity I've been through is nothing in comparison with that experienced by the Dalai Lama," he said.
Upon their meeting, the Dalai Lama laid a white scarf, known as a khata in Tibetan Buddhism, around Chen's neck in a show of respect and goodwill. The president returned the courtesy by giving the Tibetan monk a copy of his biography and a wooden Buddha sculpture.
Chen's charismatic guest emphasized that politics was not his forte but said that since 1973 he had embarked on a "centrist" track despite criticism from his own government-in-exile and mistrust from Beijing.
"With wisdom and compassion, one can overcome any difficult situation," the Dalai Lama said, praising Chen for doing a good job of safeguarding the nation's security and interests.
To avoid provoking Beijing, Chen dropped his pro-independence rhetoric when he was elected to the presidency last March.
He intimated that during the 2000 presidential campaign he once thought of rebuffing rival charges that he was too young to lead the country by pointing out that the Dalai Lama was only 16 when he came to power in 1950.
But the president said he had second thoughts, saying that, as a mere mortal, he dared not liken himself to the Dalai Lama, a Buddhist deity incarnate.
In response, the religious leader said he had made clear since 1992 that he would not hold any political post in order to concentrate on charity work. He added that he had therefore declined invitations to nominate officials for the government-in-exile. "They should be elected through a democratic process," the Dalai Lama said.
As is his wont, he peppered the one-hour conversation with his hallmark laughter and quips.
On the issue of the gender equality being sought by local nuns, the Tibetan monk said the matter was beyond his authority. He suggested Taiwan organize a world Buddhist conference to discuss the Buddhist notion that nuns are inferior to monks. Such a forum would mark a prominent contribution to the Buddhist community and help raise the country's international profile, the Dalai Lama noted.
He is scheduled to meet with former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) today and leave the country on Monday.
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