China has responded sharply to President Barack Obama's plan to meet this month with Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying it is "resolutely" opposed to any such contact.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence, which he denies.
The United States confirmed on Thursday that Obama would meet the Dalai Lama in Washington in the middle of this month.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement late Friday that "China resolutely opposes the visit by the Dalai Lama to the United States, and resolutely opposes U.S. leaders having contact with the Dalai Lama."
Every U.S. president in the last two decades has met with the Dalai Lama.
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