22. Apr 2009
Dalai Lama said China "acting like a child"
(AFP) The Dalai Lama accused China of "acting like a child" in cracking down on Tibetans and other minorities, saying it lacked the moral authority of a genuine superpower. Addressing a Tokyo news conference on a stopover before a speaking tour of Europe and the US, he said the Chinese government routinely arrested individuals with different views from the regime, but stressed "such a big nation of over one billion people [should have] no need for such sort of fear". The Dalai Lama said China was on the path to becoming a superpower and already had the "power of population, power of military and power of economy". "Now the fourth condition to becoming a superpower is moral authority", he said. "That is lacking. Moral authority is very, very essential. Trust is key. State secrets destroy trust. That is the greatest obstacle to authority".