Beijing: The Grammy Award conferred on the Dalai Lama has left China fuming.
Criticising the decision to confer the award on Tibetan spiritual leader Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, China said on Monday it “firmly opposes” the recognition being used to support what it described as “anti-China activities”.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated the government’s decades-long stance that the Dalai Lama is engaged in political, not purely religious, activity.
“The Dalai Lama is not purely a religious person. He is a political exile committed to anti-Chinese separatist activity under the disguise of religion,” Lin stated.
“China firmly opposes relevant sides using the award as a tool to carry out anti-China activities,” Lin added.
At the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night, Dalai Lama was recognised in the Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording category for his spoken-word album ‘Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.’
The award is a significant recognition milestone for the 90-year-old spiritual leader, whose preachings on peace and compassion have touched millions across the globe through the album.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibet uprising against Chinese rule, and has lived in this country ever since.
