Refusal to Meet the Dalai Lama (2008)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has not publicly refused to meet the Dalai Lama in a manner widely reported in the media, unlike the 2008 case with Horst Köhler.
Steinmeier, who became president in 2017, has generally maintained careful diplomatic relations with China. While he has avoided high-profile meetings with the Dalai Lama in his official capacity-likely to prevent tensions with Beijing-there is no documented instance of a formal refusal that attracted major public attention similar to the 2008 Köhler case.
Steinmeier, who became president in 2017, has generally maintained careful diplomatic relations with China. While he has avoided high-profile meetings with the Dalai Lama in his official capacity-likely to prevent tensions with Beijing-there is no documented instance of a formal refusal that attracted major public attention similar to the 2008 Köhler case.