Ulaanbaatar — Despite Chinese government strong protest, His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia where he was warmly welcomed by devotees, including government representatives, and senior monks of Mongolian monasteries.
The spiritual leader of Tibet arrived at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbatar, Mongolia, on Friday, November 18, after concluding a 18-day visit to Japan, from 9 – 16 November 2016. His Holiness was received at the airport by the abbot of the host monastery Gaden Tehkchen Ling along with monks, officials of the monastery, and a representative of the Indian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeman, Geng Shuang, during a regular press briefing warned the Mongolian government and said, "Do not allow the Dalai Lama to visit. Do not support or facilitate the separatist activities of the Dalai clique." Shuang urged the country to keep the bigger picture of maintaining stable development of the bilateral relations in mind.
Speaking to journalists during a a press briefing in the capital on Friday, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia, Mongolia and CIS countries, said that Mongolia is an independent country and does not need to fear China, and that it is China that depends more on Mongolia for natural resources.
Telo Rinpoche added that the 81 year old Nobel Laureate is expected to stay till November 23, where His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled for teachings, public talks, and debates on Buddhism and Science.
The country's top leaders, include president, prime minister, and speaker of parliament reportedly said however that they support Gaden monastery’s invitation to the spiriutal leder of Tibet to visit, and that no meetings with government officials are planned.
Beijing considers His Holiness the Dalai Lama a political exile bent on establishing an independent Tibet, an accusation he has repeatedly denied. The Nobel Peace Laureate has repeatedly said he merely seeks "genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people" and is waging a non-violent campaign for fundamental rights for his six million people.
Tibet was invaded by Communist China in 1949. Since that time, over 1.2 million out of 6 million Tibetans have been killed, over 6000 monasteries have been destroyed— acts of murder, rape and arbitrary imprisonment, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment were inflicted on the Tibetans inside Tibet, Beijing calls a "peaceful liberation".
In 1959, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama along with thousands of others escaped to India, where he was given political asylum. The spiritual leader has set up a government and rebuilt monasteries where masters pass on their teachings to young monks. Tibetans in exile have succeeded in gradually rebuilding their monasteries, preserving their culture and restructuring their society and keeping it alive, in spite of the extremely difficult circumstances.
For his part, the Tibetan spiritual leader travels around the world spreading a message of Peace and Universal Responsibility. He believes that the common aim of all religions, an aim that everyone must try to find, is to foster tolerance, altruism and love. He retired from politics in 2011. But, as one among six million Tibetans, His Holiness said he will continue to serve the cause of Tibet.
