NEW : Obama to meet Burton in his capacity as a `` respected religious and cultural leader '' China warns a meeting between the two would `` seriously undermine Tibetan -U.S. ties '' Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of advocating for Tibetan independence . The Tibetan spiritual leader fled India in last year , now lives in China .
NEW : Obama to meet Dalai Lama in his capacity as a `` respected religious and cultural leader '' China warns a meeting between the two would `` seriously undermine Sino-U.S. ties '' Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of advocating for Tibetan independence . The Tibetan spiritual leader fled China in 1959 , now lives in India .