The White House has confirmed that US President Barack Obama will proceed with his plans to meet with the Dalai Lama, despite warnings from China. China has expressed its disapproval of the meeting, stating that it would further strain relations between the two countries. Beijing has urged Obama not to meet with the exiled Tibetan leader, whom they consider a separatist. During a summit between Hu and Obama in Beijing last November, the Chinese leader expressed China's strong opposition to any government officials 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 avoid damaging 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, which had been anticipated. This tension occurred shortly after Beijing criticized Washington for a U.S. weapons package for Taiwan, which Beijing considers a separatist province. It also happened amid disagreements between China and the U.S. over the value of China's currency, trade protectionism, and Internet freedom. Beijing has become more forceful in opposing meetings between the Dalai Lama and foreign leaders, which has sparked strong reactions from patriotic Chinese who view Western criticism of Chinese policies in Tibet as interference. Demonstrations over Chinese control in Tibet disrupted the torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in London and Paris, leading to backlash from Chinese citizens abroad and boycotts of French products in China. 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 called for boycotts of French goods. Recently, a Chinese Communist Party official warned that a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama would damage Sino-U.S. relations. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese Communist Party forces. He wants Tibet to have true autonomy while still being under Chinese sovereignty, but Beijing believes that his demands are for complete independence. Previous US presidents, such as George W. Bush before Obama, have met with the Dalai Lama, causing anger from Beijing but no real consequences. China's recent statement did not mention any specific retaliation for Obama's upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama, suggesting their unease about the Tibet issue. The spokesman for the Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India believes that this shows the world is recognizing the problem in Tibet and that China needs to address it. Despite Beijing's warnings, the White House is not concerned and the meeting may take place this month. White House spokesman Bill Burton informed reporters that the president had informed China's leaders during his previous visit that he planned to meet with the Dalai Lama, and he still intends to do so. The United States believes that its relationship with China is mature enough to address areas of mutual concern like 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 hopes for dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama regarding the region's future. However, a Chinese foreign policy analyst, Yuan Peng, warned that Beijing's response may be more stringent than expected, as China seeks to redefine the rules of engagement. In the past, the United States has sold weapons to Taiwan and met with the Dalai Lama, which has angered us. However, this time we will express strong disapproval and take action in response.