The Australian government reiterated Tuesday its one-china policy, saying there is no need for Prime Minister John Howard to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to Australia.
The Australian Associated Press quoted Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Deputy Secretary Alan Thomas as saying that Australia recognizes both Tibet and Taiwan as provinces of China.
He told the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee the head of Australia's overseas missions is barred from attending any functions involving the Dalai Lama that "could be construed as giving political recognition of the Dalai Lama."
The Dalai Lama is visiting Australia at present and no political leader in the country is scheduled to meet him. During the past two days, a handful of his followers launched protests and urged Prime Minister Howard to meet their boss.
Thomas said the Dalai Lama had expressed some interest in meeting government officials to discuss human rights issues in China, but nothing had been confirmed. "There's no particular need for the prime minister to meet him on this occasion," he said.
He stressed the meeting Howard held with the Dalai Lama "acting as a religious leader" in 1996 was a "private" one.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2002)
