Taiwan welcomes visit by Dalai Lama if he sends request

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/07/06
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — On Sunday (July 5) the Dalai Lama expressed his wish to make another visit to Taiwan, a move that was welcomed by Taiwan's government, but would likely anger China.

The Dalai Lama on Sunday, the eve of his 85th birthday, delivered a session on mind training to over 1,000 followers in Taiwan via a live video stream. During his talk, he said that since the first time he visited Taiwan, "I felt Taiwanese are very close to my mine and many [Taiwanese] are my good friends."

He added that "Everyone in Taiwan, young and old, are in my mind all the time." Towards the end of the talk, the Dalai Lama indicated a trip to Taiwan is a possibility: "As the political scenario changes, I may be able to visit Taiwan. I hope for that, but it is difficult to say this at this point in time. But whether I am able to physically able to come or not, in my spirit I am with you."

In response, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) on Monday (July 6) pointed out that the Dalai Lama is a respected religious leader who won the Nobel Prize in 1989. She said that he has many followers in Taiwan who hope that he can come to the country again to teach Dharma.    [FULL  STORY]