(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-18 07:11

BEIJING - Attacks on overseas Chinese diplomatic missions lay bear once again the Dalai coterie's secessionist nature and their hypocrisy in proclaiming "peace" and "non-violence", Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao said here Monday.

"We strongly condemn the atrocities committed by the 'Tibet independence' forces," Liu said in a press release Monday night.

Liu said since the riotous crimes of beating, looting and burning took place in Lhasa, a dozen atrocious incidents of attacking Chinese diplomatic missions overseas by "Tibet independence" forces have sprung up. They were organized and planned by the Dalai clique to split China.

The "Tibet independence" forces widely resorted to violence, broke the guard line set by the police of the foreign countries and broke into China's foreign missions there, Liu said.

They smashed doors and windows and damaged vehicles, which severely disrupted the working order of the missions, gravely threatened the staff's life security and impaired the dignity of diplomatic institutions.

Such atrocities have aroused great attention from the governments of relevant countries, which have beefed up their protection of Chinese foreign missions, Liu said, expressing China's appreciation for their efforts.

China has asked relevant countries to, in accordance with international conventions such as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, take effective measures to further beef up their protection of Chinese diplomatic missions and staff, to ensure their safety and dignity not infringed, the spokesman said.