Sunday April 1 6:30 AM ET
Dalai Lama Meets Taiwan VP Amid China's Accusations

By Michael Kramer

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama and Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu, both reviled by the Chinese government which accuses them of promoting separatism, shared a stage on Sunday and appealed for peace and understanding from Beijing.

On the second day of a 10-day visit to Taiwan, the Tibetan spiritual leader, accused by China of visiting the island to collaborate with ``Taiwan independence forces,'' led the first of a series of public sermons to the faithful.

Asked by a listener if he would be willing to spread the Dharma, or Buddhist law, in officially atheist China, he said it would first require some enlightenment on Beijing's part.

``Everywhere, if there are some people who are really eager to learn from the Dharma, then it is our duty, responsibility to explain,'' the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said.

``So in the future, of course when the sort of political situation, or I think the way of thinking in the minds of the government of the People's Republic of China is becoming more open, more realistic, then of course everything will be easy.''

While the Dalai Lama has said he was on a spiritual journey, China's state-run Xinhua news agency said his meeting with members of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government showed a political agenda.

``The Dalai's second Taiwan trip will certainly be a political visit for collaborating with Taiwan independence forces to separate the motherland,'' Xinhua said.

``With such a political backdrop, how could Dalai's trip be a pure 'religious tour'?'' it said.

Lu Thanks Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama fled his Himalayan homeland after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959 and he won the Nobel Peace Prize three decades later for a peaceful campaign for autonomy.

Beijing has also claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since routing Nationalist troops in a civil war on the mainland in 1949. China has threatened to attack Taiwan if it declared independence or dragged its feet on unification talks.

China's relations with Taiwan remain touchy, as Taipei negotiates arms purchases from Washington in April. Sino-U.S. relations have also been chilled by the reported defection of a Chinese military officer and three China-born U.S. professors said to be detained by Chinese police.

Both the Dalai Lama and vice president Lu are on a select list of people that Beijing's state media criticize by name.

Lu, whom China has branded ``scum of the nation'' for describing Taiwan and China as ``close neighbors but distant relatives,'' thanked the Dalai Lama for braving China's disapproval and showing concern for Taiwan.

``Tibetan compatriots have faced all kinds of oppression from the Chinese Communist Party, but he still has the heart and compassion to come to Taiwan, because he knows we have many difficulties as well,'' she said in an address ahead of an inter-faith prayer meeting attended by the Dalai Lama.

``Don't forget, 90 nautical miles away on the coast of the Chinese mainland, 300 missiles have already been deployed, and 50 more will be added every year,'' she said.

``With so many religious leaders here, we hope to use Buddhist compassion to pray that all people with power will be humble, work hard, love the people, be peaceful and treat all life with kindness,'' Lu said.

The Dalai Lama declined an invitation to attend Lu and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration last year, apparently due to the sensitivity of the meeting.

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