John McCain, after a 45-minute meeting in Aspen, Colorado, with the Dalai Lama, is calling on China to release prisoners from the recent Tibetan uprising.
And McCain says he's urging Beijing to account for Tibetans who have, quote, "disappeared" since protests in March, and engage in meaningful dialogue on genuine autonomy for Tibet.
McCain says next month's Olympic Games would provide a good opportunity for China to demonstrate that it recognizes human rights.
The Dalai Lama praised McCain for his concern, while emphasizing he wasn't endorsing McCain's presidential bid.
Following the meeting, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama, said: "The Senator remains gravely concerned for those who have been imprisoned for expressing their political and religious beliefs and asked to be kept informed about the situation in Tibet. The meeting provided His Holiness an opportunity to express his gratitude for all the heartfelt support we are receiving and the serious efforts the international community is making to help resolve the situation. He also repeated that he is seeking autonomy for Tibet within the People's Republic of China."
Senator Barack Obama, presumptive 2008 US presidential nominee from the Democratic Party, met the Dalai Lama in 2005 at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee event, and has been in contact with the Dalai Lama recently.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is seeking support from world leaders for upcoming talks with China once the Olympics are over. He says he wants autonomy, not independence, for Tibet.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of working for Tibetan independence.
And McCain says he's urging Beijing to account for Tibetans who have, quote, "disappeared" since protests in March, and engage in meaningful dialogue on genuine autonomy for Tibet.
McCain says next month's Olympic Games would provide a good opportunity for China to demonstrate that it recognizes human rights.
The Dalai Lama praised McCain for his concern, while emphasizing he wasn't endorsing McCain's presidential bid.
Following the meeting, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama, said: "The Senator remains gravely concerned for those who have been imprisoned for expressing their political and religious beliefs and asked to be kept informed about the situation in Tibet. The meeting provided His Holiness an opportunity to express his gratitude for all the heartfelt support we are receiving and the serious efforts the international community is making to help resolve the situation. He also repeated that he is seeking autonomy for Tibet within the People's Republic of China."
Senator Barack Obama, presumptive 2008 US presidential nominee from the Democratic Party, met the Dalai Lama in 2005 at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee event, and has been in contact with the Dalai Lama recently.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is seeking support from world leaders for upcoming talks with China once the Olympics are over. He says he wants autonomy, not independence, for Tibet.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of working for Tibetan independence.