The White House confirmed that US President Barack Obama will proceed with his plans to meet with the Dalai Lama, despite warnings from China against doing so. China has expressed concern that the meeting will further strain relations between the two countries, already complicated by issues such as arms sales to Taiwan. Chinese officials have urged Obama not to meet with the exiled Tibetan leader, whom they view as a separatist. During a summit between Hu and Obama in Beijing last November, the Chinese leader firmly stated China's opposition to any government leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama, according to Ma. Ma also urged the U.S. to understand the sensitivity of Tibetan issues and handle related matters carefully to prevent further damage to China-U.S. relations. China's anger at the White House's announcement was expected, as was the White House's confirmation of the meeting. This incident occurred shortly after Beijing criticized Washington for a $6.4 billion weapons package to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province. Tensions between China and the U.S. have also been rising over issues such as China's currency value, trade protectionism, and Internet freedom. Beijing has become more forceful in opposing meetings between the Dalai Lama and foreign leaders, which has become a sensitive topic for patriotic Chinese who view Western criticism of Chinese policy in Tibet as interference. Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet during the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay in London and Paris sparked backlash from Chinese abroad and led to demonstrations in China calling for boycotts of French goods. When French President Nicolas Sarkozy refused to cancel a meeting with the Dalai Lama during his country's EU presidency in 2008, China retaliated by cancelling a summit with the EU and calling for boycotts of French goods. A Chinese Communist Party official recently warned that a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama could harm Sino-U.S. relations. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese Communist Party forces. He wants true autonomy for Tibet within Chinese sovereignty, but Beijing believes he is actually seeking independence. Previous US presidents, including George W. Bush, have met with the Dalai Lama, sparking anger from Beijing but no significant consequences. China's recent statement did not mention any specific retaliation for Obama's planned meeting. Thubten Samphel, spokesman for the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India, believes this shows China's nervousness about the Tibet issue and the need for action. The White House is not concerned about Beijing's warnings regarding the meeting, which could occur this month. White House spokesman Bill Burton informed reporters that the president assured China's leaders during his previous visit that he plans to meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to follow through on this promise. The US believes that its relationship with China is mature enough to address mutual concerns such as climate change, the global economy, and non-proliferation, as well as to have open discussions about areas of disagreement. The US acknowledges Tibet as part of China and urges Beijing to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama regarding the region's future. However, a Chinese foreign policy analyst, Yuan Peng, warned that China's response could be more stringent than expected, as Beijing is becoming more assertive on what it considers to be core issues. Yuan Peng emphasized China's desire to change the rules of the game in this regard. Even though the US has sold weapons to Taiwan and met with the Dalai Lama in the past, and we have criticized the United States for it, this time there will be strong condemnation and retaliation.