China cancels rights talks with Germany

China has cancelled December human rights talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

China has cancelled December human rights talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the meeting in Beijing had been cancelled "in the last few days."

China criticised Ms Merkel for meeting the Dalai Lama last month. China views the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a beacon for pro-independence sentiment in Tibet.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the meeting "seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and undermined China-Germany relations".

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Soon after the Berlin meeting, China called off other talks scheduled for the end of September in Munich, citing "technical reasons."

China routinely criticises visits abroad by the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet for India in 1959 during a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The 1989 Nobel Peace laureate remains popular among Tibetans and is widely respected abroad, despite efforts to undermine him by Chinese authorities.