Given the conduct of the US over the past decade, it is undeniably a little humorous to hear China accuse the US of “grossly” interfering in its internal affairs by President Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama in the White House. The US has invaded two countries, one, Iraq, without any real provocation. And it has been instrumental, albeit with the agreement of other countries, in the air attack on Libya, designed, in theory, to protect innocent civilians, but with the obvious goal of forcing Colonel Muammar Gaddafi from his long-time rule of his country. Tibet is a sensitive topic for China and understandably so. But the Dalai Lama has officially removed himself from the politics of that country and, Gandhi-like, used his soapbox to promote non-violent protests. President Obama praised him for that stance but explicitly told him that the US does not support Tibetan independence from China. It is very unlikely that the US would even think of interfering with China's claim that Tibet is and always will be a part of China. China must accept the fact that many countries do not agree with its annexation of the tiny, mountainous region known as Tibet. It is well-known that much of the world feels that way even though there has been no military or even political campaign on the part of other countries to change the situation. Given the power of China in the world today, it can almost be guaranteed that no country would make such a move. As China's influence in the world continues to grow, it must be prepared to accept criticism for its actions, even when it is fully convinced that it is right. The more powerful a country becomes, the more likely it is that it will be the target of criticism. That is the reality of world politics. It always has been, and it always will be. __
