Tibet official voices strong opposition to Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan

A senior official of the Tibet Autonomous Region expressed on Monday his firm opposition to the Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan.

"We strongly oppose anyone who is in power (in Taiwan) to invite the Dalai Lama to visit the island," said Padma Choling, chairman of the standing committee of Tibet's regional people's congress, at a press conference.

"Everyone clearly knows what kind of person the Dalai Lama is," he said when answering a question from a foreign reporter about the intention of some political figures in Taiwan to invite the Dalai Lama to the island.

"The Dalai Lama must give up his secessionist stance and stop all activities to split the motherland," said Padma Choling, also a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's national legislature. "Our attitude is consistent."