China on Wednesday seriously criticized two French officials' remarks on the Tibetan riots and the Dalai Lama, saying the riots were a secessionist, violent incident planned by the Dalai Lama, an exiled politician.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Tuesday he could not tolerate China's "crackdown" in the Tibet Autonomous Region, while French human rights junior minister Rama Yade said she would definitely meet with the Dalai Lama if the latter visited France.

"The Lhasa riot is a violent, secessionist incident planned andincited by the Dalai group," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said here on Wednesday.

When asked by a journalist to respond to the French officials' remarks. Qin said the Chinese government has taken legal action to restore order in Lhasa and other Tibetan-inhabited areas.

"Any country that has an objective and just point of view should understand and support China's measures to maintain social stability and safeguard people's lives and property," said Qin.

He noted that there have been more than 100 countries who have expressed their understanding and support for China's handling of the Tibetan riots, "this shows that the international community stands behind us; they do not stand behind the Dalai group and the violent elements," he said.

Qin added that the Lhasa riots again revealed that the Dalai Lama is not really a religious person, but a political refugee engaged in the activities of splitting China and destroying national unity under the cover of religion and the camouflage of peace.

"The Chinese government is firmly opposed to the Dalai Lama visiting any country in any identity to engage in secessionist activities, and is opposed to any country having any official contacts with the Dalai Lama," said Qin.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2008)