China has sounded off about the planned appearance of the Dalai Lama at the Glastonbury Festival.
The Tibetan spiritual leader’s office has confirmed that the Dalai Lama would speak at the festival during his trip to the UK next week.
A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said that although he did not know the details of the appearance, he said it amounted to giving the Dalai Lama a platform to use in anti-China sentiment.
Festival organizers declined to comment on Friday or even confirm that the Dalai Lama would be appearing.
Beijing deems the spiritual leader to be a dangerous separatist who wants independence for Tibet.Officials routinely denounce countries which host the Dalai Lama.
Lu Kang said that China is against the "international scuttling about of the 14th Dalai Lama to serve his political aims".
"China resolutely opposes any country, organization, body or individual giving any kind of platform to the 14th Dalai Lama to engage in anti-China splittist activities," Lu said.
The Dalai Lama says he does not advocate violence and that he wants autonomy for Tibet.
He plans to visit Britain again in September, just before the Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first state visit.
In 2012, PM David Cameron had to postpone a trip to China after Beijing took offence at a meeting held between Cameron and the Dalai Lama.
China “peacefully liberated” Tibet in 1950 and has ruled it since. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising against Chinese rule.
