The foreign ministry says the Dalai Lama is welcome to visit Taiwan. That’s the word from Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Joanne Ou on Tuesday.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader celebrated his 85th birthday in Dharamshala, India on Monday. Through a video chat on Sunday, the Dalai Lama told the over 1,300 Buddhists in Taiwan that his birthday wish is to visit Taiwan again. The Dalai Lama has visited Taiwan three times - in 1997, 2001 and 2009.
Ou said the government welcomes the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan to share his Buddhist teachings at a convenient time. She said Taiwan has yet to receive his application.
The Dalai Lama is a highly revered religious leader who won the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. He has a large following in Taiwan.