March 20, 2017
ASIA / PACIFIC
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3
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BITING COMEDY. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks on “Reviving Indian Wisdom in Contem-
porary India” at a public event in New Delhi, India. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang dismissed
the Dalai Lama as “deceptive” after the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader criticized some Beijing leaders in an inter-
view with British comedian John Oliver. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
China not amused by Dalai
Lama’s spot on John Oliver’s show
By Gerry Shih
The Associated Press
EIJING — John Oliver won rave
reviews for his “Last Week
Tonight” interview showing the
Dalai Lama in all his candor and wit.
Beijing, however, was not amused.
China’s foreign ministry said the exiled
Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader had
appeared “deceptive” on the HBO show
where he criticized some Chinese leaders
as small minded and mocked Beijing’s
portrayal of him as “a demon.”
The Dalai Lama’s comments about the
contested issue of his reincarnation
“appear to be funny and humorous, but
they’re all lies,” ministry spokesman Geng
Shuang told reporters at a regularly
scheduled news conference. He dismissed
the show that aired in the U.S. as merely
intended for entertainment purposes.
China’s ruling Communist Party has
long depicted the Dalai Lama as a danger-
ous separatist and frequently objects when
he meets with global political leaders and
entertainment figures, seeing those events
as suggesting he is a world leader himself.
China’s leadership also insists it has the
authority to appoint the Dalai Lama’s
successor after his death. Traditional
beliefs dictate that the highest figure in
Tibetan Buddhism will be reincarnated in
a boy who would subsequently be recog-
nized as the new Dalai Lama by senior
monks. But the current spiritual leader
has said he would be happy if the title ends
with his death.
During the interview conducted at the
Dalai Lama’s residence in India’s northern
hill town of Dharmsala, Oliver asked the
Dalai Lama if he was worried about the
Chinese authorities naming his successor.
The Dalai Lama did not answer the
question directly but told Oliver that
Chinese hardliners lacked common sense
and “that part of the brain.”
“They describe me as a demon,” the
Dalai Lama said, referring to Beijing’s
officials. “Then I immediately (say) I am a
demon with horns,” he said, sticking his
fingers up on either side of his head to
laughter from Oliver and his audience.
“Whatever they want, they want to say,
that’s their opinion. I have no negative
feelings. I just feel a laugh, like that,” he
added. “I practice taking others’ anger,
suspicion, distrust, and give them
patience, tolerance, and compassion. I
practice that.”
Elsewhere in the interview, a discussion
of alcoholism in Mongolia led to questions
about the difference between horse and
cow milk. The Dalai Lama also said he had
been good at his job, adding: “I may say,
quite intelligent.”
The spat over the Dalai Lama’s reincar-
B
nation — and its implications about who
will lead Tibetan Buddhism — is one of the
biggest points of contention in the
long-running feud between the exiled
monk and Beijing.
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India
during an abortive uprising against
Chinese rule in 1959, has said he simply
wants a higher degree of autonomy for
Tibet under Chinese rule.
Growing serious, Oliver asked about the
scores of Tibetans who have set them-
selves on fire in recent years to protest
repressive Chinese policies, something the
Dalai Lama said saddened him deeply but
which he couldn’t openly condemn to avoid
hurting surviving family members even
more.
“From Buddhist viewpoint, this is
self-killing, not good, So therefore, my
position is very, very difficult, so best to
remain silent, quiet,” he said.
China’s government has accused him of
encouraging the suicides as part of a
campaign of violent separatism.
The Dalai Lama “is a political exile en-
gaged in anti-China separatist activities
under the guise of religion,” Geng said.
“We can now see that he’s also an actor.
He’s very good at acting and he’s very
deceptive.”
The Dalai Lama interview was called
“an unexpected delight” by online news
site Vox, while sports and entertainment
website Fansided described it as “like a
hug for the soul.”
q
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Malaysia says it has consent
to decide on Kim’s body
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A
senior Malaysian police official says the
family of Kim Jong Nam, who was killed
last month, has given consent to Malaysia
to decide what to do with his body.
Officials say police confirmed Kim’s
identity using the DNA of one of his
children.
Kim was holding a diplomatic passport
by the name of Kim Chol when he was
attacked February 13 at Kuala Lumpur’s
airport by two women who smeared the
banned VX nerve agent on his face. He died
within 20 minutes.
Deputy national police chief Noor
Rashid Ibrahim said Kim’s family will let
the government decide what to do with his
body.
Noor Rashid said any decision will be
subject to negotiations between the two
countries amid a diplomatic standoff over
the killing.
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Celebrate The Year of the Rooster!
January 28, 2017 to
February 15, 2018
The Asian Reporter’s
Lunar New Year special section
in honor of the Rooster Year
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