The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, condemned the British House of Commons Wednesday for holding a hearing on the so-called China's human rights issue and inviting the Dalai Lama to speak at the hearing.

"We express our strong indignation and opposition to such an act that forms an arrogant interference in China's domestic affairs and hurts Chinese people's feelings," the NPC's Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement.

Tibet is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and Tibetan affairs are part of China's domestic affairs, the statement said, adding that this has been widely recognized by the international community.

The Tibet issue is not about ethnic, religion nor human rights but a political issue that concerns China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.

The Dalai Lama could not stand for the Tibetan people as he has been engaged in activities aimed at splitting the country and restoring the old theocratic rule in Tibet, which is even darker than medieval Europe, the statement said.

The British parliament's invitation of the Dalai Lama to speak at the hearing is unacceptable to the Chinese government and people, and indeed, to any international voice with conscience, it said, "The irresponsible act is an irony to democracy, freedom and human rights."

"We hope the British House of Commons and its Foreign Affairs Committee will take into consideration bilateral relations and the interests of the two peoples, and cherish the hard-won sound relationship between the two countries," the statement said.

The Chinese side also hoped Britain would show its sincerity, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, recognize Tibet as an inalienable part of China, take concrete actions to protect bilateral ties and prevent such things from happening again, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2008)