China Criticizes US for Dalai Lama Birthday Greetings, Warns Against Tibet Interference

China has sharply criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for sending greetings to the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, labeling the spiritual leader a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities and asserting the U.S. has no authority to interfere in Tibet-related issues. Chinese officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning and ambassador Xu Feihong, emphasized that the Dalai Lama has no right to decide the continuation of the Tibetan reincarnation system, a stance challenged by Tibetan political leader Sikyong Penpa Tsering who defended the Dalai Lama's spiritual authority on reincarnation matters. The U.S. message, read during the Dalai Lama's birthday commemoration by a senior diplomat, reaffirmed America's commitment to Tibetan human rights and cultural preservation, drawing ire from Beijing. China urged Washington to recognize the sensitivity of Tibet issues and criticized the Dalai Lama for purported separatism under religious guise. Concurrently, tensions between the U.S. and Asian countries escalated as President Donald Trump announced impending higher import tariffs pending trade deal agreements, affecting major U.S. trade partners including Japan and South Korea, though this trade topic is unrelated to the Tibet dispute. Overall, the developments highlight ongoing geopolitical friction involving Tibet's status and U.S.-China diplomatic relations.