The long-anticipated meeting set for Feb. 18 is likely to enflame tensions between China and the United States. China accuses the Dalai Lama of pushing for Tibetan independence and believes that shunning the exiled Tibetan monk should be a basic principle of international relations.
Obama has been under intense pressure to meet with the Dalai Lama after putting off a meeting in October. U.S. officials said at the time that Tibet could be better addressed in a November summit between Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao if Chinese leaders weren't furious over a recent meeting between the Dalai Lama and Obama.
