IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing

US-Dalai Lama contact criticized

Beijing voiced "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" on Monday after Washington arranged for a senior official to contact the secessionist Dalai Lama. On Friday, senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett attended what some media reports said was a birthday celebration for the Dalai Lama in New York. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes woman Hua Chunying said the US had ignored representations from China before arranging the contact, and Beijing urged Washington to stop any actions that facilitate and support Tibet's secessionist forces.