White House plays down Dalai Lama’s US visit

The Dalai Lama has arrived in Washington for talks with Barack Obama.

The White House played down the visit in an attempt to placate China, which believes that official contact with the leader of Tibetan Buddhists infringes on its claims over Tibet.

The meeting will be in the Map Room, not the Oval Office where world leaders are usually entertained. A former Asia adviser to president George W Bush said this was to avoid inflaming relations with the Chinese.

Michael Green said: "The Chinese government is preoccupied with protocol and how things look."

The Dalai Lama's envoy, Lodi Gyari, said that even a private meeting with Mr Obama was important for Tibetans who feel marginalised by China.