The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, called Thursday on China to introduce democracy to avoid a collapse like that of the Soviet Union. The Dalai Lama, invited to visit Taiwan to bless typhoon victims, made the call while receiving disciples at the Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei.

As he spoke, hundreds of pro-China activists protested outside the hotel, clashing with police and shouting, "Tibet, China all belong to China!" and "Dalai Lama go back to India!"

"Taiwan's highest value is democracy and freedom of speech," the Dalai Lama told members of the Friends of Tibet while adding in an apparent reference to the demonstration, "While you enjoy this value, I hope you can also spread it to China." "I hope China, under communist rule, can adopt democracy and become more transparent step by step because the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union is not the best for China," he said.

The Dalai Lama arrived in Taiwan Sunday to bless the survivors of Typhoon Morakot, which hit Taiwan Aug 8, killing nearly 700 people. He has visited the typhoon disaster areas, comforted survivors and held a prayer meeting for typhoon victims attended by 15,000 people.

"Democratisation is the trend of the world," he said Thursday. "China is part of the world, so democracy can help China's economic development." China has accused the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet and warned that his Taiwan trip would damage Taipei-Beijing ties, which have been improving rapidly since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008.

To avoid angering China, Ma did not meet the Dalai Lama and the Dalai Lama's second prayer meeting was cancelled. In an interview with the Public Television Service (PTS) Wednesday, the 73-year-old Tibetan Buddhist leader - who has called for autonomy for Tibet within China, not for independence - stressed that his Taiwan trip was purely a religious one.

He said he was not disappointed that Ma did not meet him while dismissing concerns that his trip has hurt Taiwan-China ties. "It s too early to say that," he told PTS. "Wait for six months and one year; then you will know."

The Dalai Lama has been leading the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala in northern India since he fled Tibet after an abortive uprising against a Chinese invasion in 1959. He was scheduled to leave Taiwan Friday morning.

Source : IANS