An angry China warned Canada it was fanning separatism and making a "drastic departure" in policy after Prime Minister Paul Martin agreed to meet Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
In a strongly worded statement, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa pointedly compared the Tibetan issue with Canada's past struggle to prevent francophone Quebec province going it alone.
"We are surprised to learn that the prime minister of Canada is to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit," the embassy statement said.
"Our position is: We are strongly opposed to the Dalai Lama's planned visit and any meeting with Canadian officials."
The Dalai Lama, considered a living god by followers, will visit Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto during a visit between April 19 and May 5.
China warned that any meetings he has with Canadian government officials would be "a drastic departure from Canada's current policy on the issue of Tibet."
"It will be construed by his followers as an encouragement to his separatist activities. We hope Canada, which has its own problem with Quebec will understand our position."
A spokesman for Martin told reporters this week the prime minister would meet the Dalai Lama as a spiritual rather than a political leader, following heavy domestic pressure on members of parliament from Tibetan activists here and abroad.
He will become the first Canadian head of government to meet the 1989 Nobel peace prize winner.
But the Chinese embassy statement rejected the idea that the meeting could be anything other than political.
"The Dalai Lama is not merely a religious figure, but a politician in exile engaged in activities aimed at splitting China and undermining national unity," it said.
"The issue of Tibet is neither a religious issue nor an issue of human rights, but rather a matter of principle concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Tibet's government in exile praised Canada for scheduling a meeting with the Dalai Lama as "a clear indication that strong and sustained public opinion can have a positive impact on the attitude of the governments."
"In whatever capacity the prime minister is meeting the Dalai Lama, the fact that a meeting is taking place is a recognition on the part of the Canadian government that His Holiness is a world leader and one of the most respected spiritual leaders in our time," said Thupten Samphel, spokesman for the government-in-exile based in India.
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