Taiwan Will Welcome Dalai Lama’s Visit: Ruling Party Secretary

His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

(Photo: Altered by Erum Gour/The Quint)

In a rather sensitive development, the Secretary-General of Democratic Progressive Party Lo Wen-jia, announced on Thursday, 7 March, that the country would welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit, reported Taiwan News.

Supporting Dalai Lama’s visit, Lo said, he has the right to visit wherever he wants and that should include the spiritual leader's hometown Tibet.

In 1951, Tibet reached a peace agreement with China, but later more than 80,000 Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, were forced into exile, Lo said.

The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in Dharamshala, India, since 1959.

Noting that the announcement is an extremely sensitive issue with China in the equation, Lo said, Taiwan must be cautious in negotiating with China.

He also noted that Taiwan would very much welcome a visit from the Dalai Lama, whether to spread his teachings, promote Tibetan culture, or voice solidarity with supporters, reported Focus Taiwan.

The announcement was made ahead of a march in Taipei to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan rebellion against Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama's last trip to Taiwan was in 2009, when he came to pray for survivors and the 789 people who died in Typhoon Morakot.

(With inputs from Taiwan News and Focus Taiwan.)