The White House confirmed that US President Barack Obama will proceed with his plans to meet the Dalai Lama, despite warnings from China not to do so. China has expressed anger over the meeting, stating that it will further strain the already troubled relationship between the two countries. Beijing has urged Obama not to meet with the exiled Tibetan leader, whom they view as a separatist. Ma stated that during Hu's meeting with Obama in Beijing last November, the Chinese leader emphasized China's strong opposition to any government officials meeting with the Dalai Lama. Ma urged the U.S. to understand the sensitivity of Tibetan issues and handle related matters cautiously to prevent further harm to China-U.S. relations. China's anger at the White House announcement was expected, as was the White House's confirmation of the meeting, which had been anticipated. This tension occurred shortly after Beijing criticized Washington for a $6.4 billion U.S. weapons package for Taiwan, a self-governing island that China considers a renegade province, and amid other disputes between the two countries over the value of China's currency, trade practices, and internet freedom. Beijing has become more forceful in opposing the Dalai Lama's meetings with foreign leaders, which has become a controversial issue among 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 led to angry counter-protests by Chinese abroad and demonstrations in China calling for boycotts of French products. When French President Nicolas Sarkozy refused to cancel a meeting with the Dalai Lama during France's presidency of the European Union in late 2008, China cancelled a summit with the EU and Chinese citizens called for boycotts of French goods. A Chinese Communist Party official recently warned that any meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama would greatly harm Sino-U.S. relations. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 following an unsuccessful uprising against Chinese Communist Party forces who had entered the region in 1950. He wants Tibet to have genuine autonomy while still being under Chinese control, but Beijing believes that his demands are actually for complete independence. Previous US presidents, such as George W. Bush before Obama, have met with the Dalai Lama despite Beijing's disapproval, without facing any significant consequences. China's recent statement did not mention any specific actions they would take in response to Obama's planned meeting with the Dalai Lama. The spokesman for the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, northern India, believes that China's lack of retaliation shows their concern over the Tibet issue and the international community's recognition of the problem. The White House is not concerned about Beijing's warnings and plans to go ahead with the meeting, possibly taking place this month. "The president assured China's leaders during his visit last year that he plans to meet with the Dalai Lama," stated White House spokesperson Bill Burton to reporters. He added that the United States 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 openly discuss areas of disagreement. The US acknowledges Tibet as a part of China and hopes for dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama regarding the region's future. However, a Chinese foreign policy expert warned that Beijing's response may be more challenging than expected, as China is becoming more assertive on its core issues and aims to alter the status quo according to Yuan Peng, head of US studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, in an interview with the Global Times, a Chinese newspaper. In the past, the US has sold weapons to Taiwan and met with the Dalai Lama, which has angered the United States. This time, there will be strong condemnation and retaliation.