Germany:German chancellor Angela Merkel has promised to support the Dalai Lama's efforts to preserve Tibet's cultural identity after a meeting in Berlin yesterday that prompted a furious reaction from Beijing.
Dr Merkel's spokesman tried to play down the one-hour meeting, the first between a serving German chancellor and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, as a "private exchange of views".
But Dr Merkel's glowing praise for the Dalai Lama, in particular his campaign to secure religious and cultural autonomy for Tibet, could have long-term negative implications on Sino-German relations.
The Chinese ambassador in Berlin condemned the visit in the strongest diplomatic language while the German ambassador in Beijing was summoned for a dressing down.
In Munich, senior Chinese officials cancelled a planned meeting with the German justice minister at the last minute citing "technical" problems.
Back in China, normally rigorous internet chatroom censors allowed discussion of the meeting between the "separatist" Dalai Lama and "Angela the witch".
"This is a disgrace," wrote one incensed Chinese user. "Since this woman took office she's sought nothing but trouble with China. No more contracts with Germany!" The Dalai Lama is a regular visitor to Germany, where polls show he is more popular here than Pope Benedict. He thanked Dr Merkel for "keeping up an old friendship".
"Many other people in power keep an astonishing distance," he said, adding that there would be no long-term consequences from China. "They're just testing their limits," he told the Süddeutsche Zeitungnewspaper.
The Dalai Lama, the most influential leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has been in exile since the 1959 collapse of the Tibetan resistance, nine years after Chinese forces marched into the Himalayan province.
A German government spokesman said Dr Merkel had discussed with the Dalai Lama his "peaceful, non-violent mission . . . which clearly rules out the independence of Tibet from the People's Republic of China".
The meeting did not signify a change in bilateral relations, said the spokesman, in particular Berlin's acceptance of the "one China" policy.
Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and views his meetings with world leaders as unwelcome interference in domestic policy.
German politicians from all parties praised Dr Merkel for going ahead with yesterday's meeting despite Chinese protests.
"Germany can be happy that human rights issues have such priority with Angela Merkel, that she speaks plainly and acts accordingly," said Roland Koch, the Christian Democrat (CDU) premier in the state of Hesse.
According to German reports, Dr Merkel insisted on yesterday's meeting - a personal request from the Dalai Lama - against the advice of close aides and business leaders.
German foreign analysts expressed concern about the long-term effects of the meeting.