Barack Obama To Host Dalai Lama At White House Today

The Dalai Lama is a political figure in exile who is undertaking anti-China separatist activities in the name of religion, she said.

Obama and the Dalai Lama - both Nobel Peace Prize laureates - have met twice before, in 2010 and 2011, which drew similar protests from China.

Recalling that the U.S. Presidents of both parties over the past three decades have met with the Tibetan spiritual leader, Hayden said the U.S. supported the Dalai Lama's "middle way" approach of neither assimilation nor independence for Tibetans but recognized Tibet to be "a part of China".

"We do not support Tibetan independence," she said.

Hayden said the U.S. strongly supports human rights and religious freedom in China.

"We are concerned about continuing tensions and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas of China. We will continue to urge the Chinese government to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, as a means to reduce tensions," Hayden said.

Also Read:
10 Most Widely Spoken Languages In The World
India Among The Top Contenders For The Google Lunar Xprize