Meeting 'threatens' relations

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's insistence in meeting the Dalai Lama may worsen relations between China and France, and even threaten bilateral business ties, Chinese analysts have warned.

The French side has "underestimated" China's resolution to protect its sovereignty, Feng Zhongping, European studies director at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said on Friday.

"The French leaders haven't realized that the Tibet issue concerns China's core interests. They want to play the Tibet card and at the same time maintain good economic trade relations with China, which is very difficult to achieve," Feng said.