On 15 June 2016, US President Barack Obama held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama, the leader of Tibet, at the White House. The meeting infuriated China. The spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the meeting and said that it could send the wrong signal to the Tibetan separatist groups. In his opinion, the visit of Dalai Lama in Washington can harm mutual trust and cooperation between China and the United States. The spokesman Lu Kang said that "Tibetan affairs are part of China’s internal affairs and no foreign country has the right to interfere". China, in general, dispraises all meetings between foreign heads of state and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, whom they perceive as a separatist. Dalai Lama is accused of spreading anti-China mood internationally under the guise of religion.

Foreign politicians often refuse to meet with the Dalai Lama due to fear of Beijing’s reprisal. Denmark’s relations soured for example in 2009, when it had a meeting with the Dalai Lama. More recently, China cancelled the high-level visits in the UK after Prime Minister David Cameron met with him in 2012. Despite this, the Dalai Lama visited the White House several times, mostly in 2014. President Obama has described the Tibetan Buddhist leader as a "good friend". 

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The tensions between Tibet and China have a long history. In October 1950 the Chinese People's Liberation Army invaded the Tibetan area. Almost a decade later, on 10 March 1959, the so-called Tibetan Uprising began which aimed at overthrowing the Chinese authorities. Seven days later 14th Dalai Lama escaped to India, where his supporters established the Tibetan Government in Exile. The war ended on 21 March and was won by China. Relations between China and Tibet are still difficult ever since.

For more on the history of Tibet, click here and here.