BEIJING: China on Tuesday voiced its opposition to a recent meeting between the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, warning New Delhi not to "disturb" overall ties.

The exiled Buddhist monk made a "routine call" on Singh in New Delhi earlier this month, his office said, without commenting on the nature of the talks.

"China is opposed to foreign political leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama. We have expressed this stance to the Indian side," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement faxed to AFP.

"The Indian government has many times expressed that they acknowledge that Tibet is an inseparable part of China and that they will not allow Tibetans in India to engage in anti-Chinese activities.

"China hopes the Indian side will abide by its promises ... cautiously handle the relevant issue and avoid disturbing overall China-India relations."

China, which considers the Dalai Lama a "splittist" despite his repeated calls for autonomy rather than independence for Tibet, has been increasingly vocal in demanding that world leaders refuse to meet the Buddhist leader.

The Indian hilltop town of Dharamshala has been home to the Tibetan government-in-exile since the Dalai Lama fled to India more than half a century ago, after China crushed an uprising in his homeland.

China has in the past accused the Dalai Lama of seeking to stir up tensions between New Delhi and Beijing.

Last year, the Dalai Lama made a visit to a Buddhist region near India`s disputed Himalayan border with Tibet, infuriating Beijing, which called it an attempt to destabilise Indo-Chinese ties.

BDST: 1615 HRS, August 24, 2010