Washington ( CNN ) -- President Obama met with the Dalai Lama -- the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader -- at the White House on Thursday despite strong objections from Chinese government officials . The meeting has the potential to further complicate Sino-U.S. tensions , which have been rising in recent months . China has warned it would damage Beijing 's ties to Washington . `` The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this meeting , '' a spokesman for China 's Foreign Ministry said in a statement afterward . `` China demands the U.S. seriously consider China 's stance , immediately adopt measures to wipe out the adverse impact , [ and ] stop conniving and supporting anti-China separatist forces . '' The Dalai Lama has said he favors genuine autonomy for Tibetans , not independence for Tibet . Beijing regards the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as a dangerous `` separatist '' who wishes to sever Tibet from China . Obama 's meeting with the Dalai Lama `` runs against the repeated commitments by the U.S. government that the U.S. recognizes Tibet as part of China and gives no support to 'Tibet independence , ' `` Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said . During the meeting , Obama stressed his `` strong support for the preservation of Tibet 's unique religious , cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans , '' according to a White House statement . The president praised the Dalai Lama 's `` commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government , '' the statement added . He also stressed the importance of having both sides `` engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences , and was pleased to hear about the recent resumption of talks , '' it noted . The Dalai Lama , while acknowledging that he raised concerns about Tibet during the meeting , did not provide further specifics about his home region 's political situation while addressing reporters . He said he admired America as a `` champion of democracy and ... freedom , '' and he cited the need to promote `` religious harmony '' and `` human value . '' He also met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton . The meeting between the Dalai Lama and Obama could `` seriously undermine the Sino-U.S. political relations , '' Zhu Weiqun , a senior Communist Party leader in charge of ethnic and religious affairs , warned recently . `` We will take corresponding action to make relevant countries see their mistakes . '' On Thursday , China 's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the meeting `` grossly violated the norms governing ... international relations . '' Obama did not meet with the Dalai Lama when the spiritual leader visited Washington in autumn , making it the first time since 1991 that such a meeting did not occur . Ahead of a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao , Obama persuaded Tibetan representatives back then to postpone the meeting with the Dalai Lama . Thursday 's encounter took place against the backdrop of several contentious issues already threatening to sour the relationship between America and China , including trade disputes , a recent U.S. arms sales deal for Taiwan -- which China considers an illegitimate breakaway province -- and a censorship fight over Internet search engine Google Inc . The meeting is `` another event in the recent , one has to say , downward spiral in U.S.-China relations , '' China scholar David Shambaugh said . It 's also troublesome for the Chinese for one other important reason , Shambaugh said . `` He could have met him as a spiritual leader in a neutral place like a church , '' he said . But receiving him in the White House `` is a political act . And that is going to irritate China very much . '' The meeting did not take place in the formal , official setting of the Oval Office . It was instead held in the White House Map Room , which is considered part of the presidential residence . The choice of settings was considered by many observers to be a sign of Washington 's acknowledgment of Beijing 's political sensitivities . Some analysts said the Chinese government could retaliate by cutting off political exchanges as it did after the Dalai Lama met with the heads of state of France and Germany . And Hu could turn down an invitation to visit Washington in April . Neither China nor the United States can afford strained relations , said Douglas Paal , a diplomat and investment banker who has served as a presidential adviser on China . `` We both need each other , '' he said . `` We need each other for a number of international security issues -- to deal with the global climate crisis , to deal with the global financial crisis . '' Poll : Most Americans favor Tibetan independence . China is the largest-growing export market for U.S. companies , Paal said , expanding by 65 percent last year alone . Nearly three-quarters of all Americans think that Tibet should be an independent country , according to a national CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll . But the survey , released Thursday , also indicates that most Americans think it is more important to maintain good relations with China than to take a stand on Tibet . CNN 's Emily Chang , Jill Dougherty , Jaime FlorCruz , Paul Steinhauser and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report .
NEW : China `` expresses strong dissatisfaction , '' Foreign Ministry spokesman says . Dalai Lama is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate ; Beijing regards him as a dangerous `` separatist '' Pair meet in White House Map Room , a choice some say is a bow to Beijing 's sensitivities . Analyst : U.S. , China `` need each other '' to deal with global security , financial , climate issues .