Chinese media slams Dalai Lama's call for talks with IS

The Dalai Lama's call for talks with the Islamic State terror group to end the violence has evoked strong criticism from Chinese media which said the "shocking" suggestion provides a good chance for the monk's supporters in the West to see his "true colours".
"The Dalai Lama's recent terrorist-sympathising remarks have again shocked the world, and provided for those in the West who used to exchange backing him for selfish political gains a chance to see the monk's true colours," a commentary in state-run Xinhua news agency said.
While traveling in France, the Tibetan spiritual leader had mooted talks with Islamic State extremists, saying talks are "the only way" to end bloodshed in Syria and Iraq.

"It is not the first time the monk has made such a highly controversial remark, which has been savagely criticised in Europe and the wider world," the commentary said.
"His call for Europe to take in refugees without conditions has also irritated many in the continent, who blame him for being purely hypocritical and totally devoid of common sense. That provides a good enough reason for Paris to shun him," it said.
"Although the Dalai Lama has for long claimed to have abandoned politics and only focus on protecting the Tibetan culture, language and ecology, he devoted his visit to France to mainly spreading his political ideas in a bid to maintain influence," it said.

"It is worth noting that the Dalai Lama, who has been living in India for decades, has never uttered one word about the rampant poverty in that country. On the contrary, he has often caused division and trouble in the Himalayan region and helped stunt economic and social development there," it said.

"Moreover, despite his repeated denial, the Dalai Lama has been trying to split Tibet from China," it said.
The Dalai Lama fled his homeland in Tibet in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Communist rule and has since been based in Dharamshala where the Tibetan governemnt-in-exile is located.

China views the 81-year-old Nobel peace laureate as a separatist seeking Tibet's independence from the Chinese mainland.