Countering the Dalai Lama's influence in the Tibet's ethnic affair will be our "highest priority," China's Communist Party's new Secretary for Tibet Wu Yingjie said. The statement comes nearly a month after his appointment as Tibet's new chief.

"First, we must deepen the struggle against the Dalai Lama clique, make it the highest priority in carrying out our ethnic affairs, and the long-term mission of strengthening ethnic unity," Wu said Wu in a speech published in the Tibet Daily on Friday.

Like Us on Facebook

Wu called for efforts to expose the reactionary nature of the Dalai Lama, crack down on his separatist and subversive activities, and eliminate harmful elements that damage Tibet's ethnic unity.

China considers the self-exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist leader, whose sole aim is to seek Tibet's separation from mainland China. He is often seen traveling across the world, meeting world leaders and delivering speeches at international forums to garner support for Tibet's independence movement.

The Dalai Lama's globetrotting activities has often attracted strong criticism from Beijing, which sees it as a blatant challenge to China's sovereignty over Tibet. China maintains that its rule has brought political stability and economic development in the Himalayan Buddhist region.

However, the Dalai Lama and other critics allege that China continues to suppress Tibet's cultural and spiritual identity. Beijing strongly dismisses these allegations.

Tibet was officially incorporated into mainland China in 1959 after a failed uprising. The uprising's failure forced the Dalai Lama to flee to India and since then has been living in exile in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh.            

Tagschina, Tibet, China and Tibet, Dalai Lama, China Dalai Lama, Tibet independence