Not wanting to annoy China, Japanese Prime Minister Yokio Hatoyama has politely refused to meet with the visiting Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama citing his "tight" schedule.
Hatoyama sent a message to the Dalai Lama through a group of Japanese lawmakers on Sunday saying he is hoping to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader again, Japanese media reported.
Hatoyama hoped to meet the Dalai Lama this time but his schedule was tight, Seishu Makino, head of a bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers on the Tibetan issue, was quoted as saying.
The Japanese Prime Minister avoided meeting with the Dalai Lama, apparently considering Japanese relations with China, which sees the Buddhist leader as a separatist trying to tear Tibet from Chinese rule. But the message may draw criticism from China, Kyodo news agency reported.
Beijing opposes most activities of the Dalai Lama, especially meetings between him and officials, as it accuses of advocating independence from Chinese rule for his Himalayan homeland.
Before becoming prime minister in September following a historic victory in the general election, Hatoyama met the 74 -year-old Dalai Lama in November 2007 as secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan and expressed support for "high autonomy" for Tibet.
The Dalai Lama, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who lives in exile in India after fleeing Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, received Hatoyama's message from a bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers on the Tibetan issue at a Tokyo hotel, the report said.
The Dalai Lama thanked Hatoyama for the message and told the group that he is glad that Hatoyama, with whom he has met several times, has become prime minister, the sources said.
The Dalai Lama also said he has sent a personal letter to Hatoyama to celebrate his inauguration as prime minister, the report said.
On Saturday, the Dalai Lama had hit out at China for opposing his proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying it reflected a "negative attitude" as his trip was solely for teaching.
The Dalai Lama said his upcoming visit to the Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh was not the first one, and that he was surprised and saddened by China's criticism over it.
"I was surprised at China's criticism. If my visit creates problem, I am very sad, that's all," the Tibetan leader said, implying that he intends to go ahead with his visit on November 8.
India and China were recently engaged in a verbal spat over Dalai Lama's proposed visit to Arunachal over which China lays claim. China objected to his visit, but India rejected the objection, saying the Tibetan leader was free to travel anywhere in India.
Image: The Dalai Lama
