Why not allow Scotland to be independant? I can see their willingness to be independant when I visited there. We never interfere with your internal affairs. So, pls respect us. Or just give up Scot to set up a "good" example for us.

Wang, London, UK

Who will future generations call heroes, visionaries, champions of freedom and spirit of liberty and human rights? Who will our children look up to for inspiration, truth and kindness? Who will be a guide into a better world for the common good? Who will be seen as the bringer of enlightenment ?

David, Albany, USA

France just have to recognise that China people have their own mind too.Tibet is an autonomous region rather than a sovereign state. Tibet is a sovereign state's internal problems, not between two sovereign states. I hope that French people learn to respect the sovererreignty of our country .

alice, chongqin, china

Sarkozy is so silly. French has hurt all our Europeans.

John Smith, delft, Hollands

Colin, Carmarthen, UK says: "An Independent Tibet would be a magnet to the world...."

Please stop dreaming. Tibetan exiles do not think of independence, just greater autonomy maybe. ..

Should not the global world be focussing on the present economic crisis? Umm net effect of globalisation?

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Sarkozy is from Jewish diasporic lineage - converted to Catholisism. Ecumenism - Dalai as a facilitator & power grabs in the EU are his social agenda. France has little impact from the financial crisis. Blind leading blind - Truth is light!

Kaibo, Hefei, PRChina

Dai lai says he is a religioues leader, but what he talks is only about politics. The EU must know that almost every people in China don't like Dai Lai at all.They think Dai lai represents moral authority , but in fact he is just a liar.

wjt, Wu han ,HUBEI , CHINA

I think the sooner we in the west get get rid of our superiority complex the better it will be for all concerned. How dare we interfere in the internal matters of a sovereign nation! Likewise it would serve France & any other Country well to realise they needs China more than China needs them!

Kevin Sullivan, London,

An independent Tibet would be a magnet to the world. A unique cultural beacon. Talk of 'dark ages of oppression' is old style maoist propaganda and the Tibetan people do not enjoy any 'liberated freedom.' If China seeks global respect then the CCP must grasp the nettle by addressing a moral agenda.

Colin, Carmarthen, United Kingdom

Mighty China is afraid of the power of only one man.

Les Copeland, Los Angeles, USA

Of course Sarkozy has every rights to do whatever he wants and answers to nobody, if, France is the only country in the world. To meet Dalai at this time and place is not proper behaviour of a prudent responsible politician. A trade war with China now will ensure EU Stagnation + High Inflation.

E.Wong, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Why is China afraid of Dalai Lama? If they to gave autonomy to Tibet as originally promised by Mao it would encourage other minorities to seek the same also athiest CCP is afraid of religion, communism is a jealous god. Their personal attacks on HH DL are purile, modern China lacks moral maturity.

Tim, Asti, Italy

the talk of trade sanctions is ridiculous - how does a country like France merit this kind of treatment?
This just shows a mentality of knowing you're wrong, and so attacking the opponent rather than introspecting and deciding how to improve
If China wants to be the new USA, it needs to smarten up

Antoine, London, UK

I agree with Jian of Shanghai. China is not a team player and as far as I am concerned can become re-aquainted with trade protectionism. Melamine & Lead poisoning are symptomatic of China's products US & EU need to rebuild their industries without subsidised competiton from China. Mandy go home

Richard, Stanstead Abbotts,

The world's people can enjoy the Tibetan sights thanks to Chinese infrastructure.
The Tibetan people themselves enjoy liberated freedom from the "dark ages" of oppression, as well as greatly improved health, education and living standards.
Also illicit trafficking has greater restrictions now.

Kaibo, Hefei, PRChina

To: Ngoumo, Singapore
France is not encouraging splitist elements in China. That is not the situation at all because China invaded Tibet in 1950 and still occupies that country illegally. President Sarkozy is not an unsavoury leader but is a person of courage. China must learn by his moral example.

Colin, Carmarthen, United Kingdom

Eu countries have the right to surpport Dalai, It is their own bussiness, but China have also the right to say NO to Eu. China threatens France, this could not be happened 100 years ago, but now China stand up and could speak out loudly. Eu should get uesed to it.

Jian, Shanghai,

Typical European arrogance.
It is unacceptable for one country's leader to encourage splitists elements in another country.
Whatever MEP does is its right, but so is China's right not to attend talks with any unsavory leader. The days when Europe dictates international agenda are clearly over.

Ngoumo, Singapore,

Trade sanctions may work in the short term to annoy a few EU states but it hurts China in the long term.
China provides in most cases cheap low quality substitute goods and as states try to internalize trading to bolster their economies I can't see the point of China pushing its self out.

Kieran, St Andrews,

France/EU should take into account the current economic climate and improve relations with China rather than show that it is taking into account the emotional/political concerns of the Dalai Lama.
If the EU really did support the views of the Dalai Lama, it would have done something already.

K Khan, London, UK

Tibet is a small country with many friends. France and the EU are quite right to respect the Dalai Lama as representative of his people. We have many small nations within Europe and each is respected as a sovereign country. China must stop it's threats and anger and learn morality from this example.

Colin, Carmarthen, United Kingdom

China has forgotten that France was one off the first countries to recognise China as a country.Why France did it? Because they have their own mind.That has not changed and France will do again what the people of France want to do.China just have to recognise that French people have their own mind.

B Clapci, Vancouver,

EU should go ahead with a Summit/ spiritual meeting(if so claimed) with Dalai lama instead of blaming the commie China for not attending.

The ever right EU should stand up to China and not using Dalai Lama as bargaining chip. EU should one day be a buddhist continent 2 for their idepth undrstanding

Boon, KL, Malaysia