Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/29
By: Christie Chen and Chen Chun-hua

Taipei, Feb. 29 (CNA) A lawmaker on Monday urged the Taiwanese government to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama so that the Tibetan spiritual leader can visit Taiwan for a fourth time.

The Dalai Lama visited Taiwan in 1997, 2001 and 2009, but Taiwan’s government has not granted him a visa since his last trip here, said Legislator Chen Shei-saint (陳學聖) of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT).

Tibetan Buddhism has a large following in Taiwan and not allowing the Dalai Lama in over the past six years has not only been a loss for his followers, but also “a loss of Taiwan’s autonomy over its religion, culture or even sovereign consciousness, and self-belittling behavior,” Chen said in a statement.

He said the Dalai Lama has repeatedly expressed his hope to visit Taiwan.

“We have no reason to view this 80-year-old eminent monk as a variable in cross-strait relations and close the door on him,” Chen said.     [FULL  STORY]