Commentary: Mongolia should keep sober mind on Dalai Lama issue

One month has passed since the Dalai Lama visited Mongolia, but the negative impact of his visit on Mongolia-China relations will be felt for some time to come.

The 14th Dalai Lama, a political exile with ambitions to split Tibet from Chinese territory under the guise of religion, paid a visit to Mongolia on Nov. 18-23.

Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh-Orgil expressed regret over the incident, saying Mongolia will no longer allow the Dalai Lama to visit it, even in the name of religion, according to Mongolian media reports on Tuesday.

China has voiced strong dissatisfaction over the Dalai Lama's visit to Mongolia and urged Ulan Bator to take effective measures to remove the negative impact on bilateral ties.

"China hopes Mongolia will learn lessons from the Dalai Lama's visit last month and respect China's core interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing on Wednesday.

Observers believe Mongolia should keep a sober mind on the Dalai Lama issue.

China has no intention of interfering in Mongolia's internal affairs, and will never do. However, it is a different issue as far as the Dalai Lama is concerned.

The consensus that Tibet is an indivisible part of Chinese territory is part of the political foundation for the healthy development of China's bilateral relationships.

The Dalai Lama's attempt to split Tibet from China under the guise of religion is unacceptable to China.

The Mongolian government should recognize that the Dalai Lama's visit can hardly be said to be of a purely religious nature as had been claimed.

The Dalai Lama was granted a visa and heavy security, and he stayed in the Ikh Tenger complex where the residences of the Mongolian president, parliament speaker and prime minister are located.

Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's religious affairs advisor participated in arranging his agenda in the land-locked east Asian country.

Moreover, it should be noted that the Dalai Lama, on the last day of his visit to Mongolia, said that the reincarnation of the 9th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu had been approved by him.

However, Mongolia's Gandantegchinlen Monastery had announced, before his arrival, that the Dalai Lama's visit had nothing to do with the selection of the reincarnation.

Munkh-Orgil said Mongolia regards the reincarnation of its highest Buddhist leader as its internal affair that should remain devoid of any outside influence -- a stance that indicates that the Dalai Lama has no right to affirm the reincarnation.

It is hoped that the Dalai Lama will not visit Mongolia again and that Mongolia will adopt a sober attitude toward him in the future and not compromise its ties with China. Endi