The Dalai Lama canceled an international news conference scheduled for this morning on the first full day of his visit amid government concern over the political connotations.
The Dalai Lama was expected to arrive on a flight at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 21:50 yesterday evening. During his stay, he will visit the typhoon-devastated areas of Southern Taiwan , talk to victims, chair prayer meetings, and give speeches. The Tibetan leader is scheduled to leave Taiwan on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday afternoon it had received a request from the Dalai Lama's team to bring forward his visit to disaster areas to the morning and cancel the news conference, originally scheduled for that part of the day. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu strongly suggested spending more time in the disaster zone, the Dalai Lama's representative in Taiwan , Dawa Tsering, told reporters, adding that humanitarian and religious were paramount.
"Don't politicize it, that will be no good for anybody," the Tibetan official said.
The invitation by opposition Democratic Progressive Party chiefs of counties and cities in the disaster areas for the visit caused a furor in Beijing.
Harsh criticism from China reportedly led to the ruling Kuomintang sending its top spokesman, Li Chien-jung, to Beijing to assuage the Communist regime's fears. Cable station TVBS said the Chinese team at the Taipei Deaflympics would give the Saturday Sept. 5 opening ceremony a miss, only arriving in the country late at night, possibly as a reprisal against the government's decision to allow the Dalai Lama's visit.
Before boarding his flight in New Delhi yesterday, the Tibetan leader issued a three-point statement, emphasizing his invitation came from the Taiwan ese people, and not from any political group. He said his only aims were to console the victims of the typhoon and to pray for disasters to stay away from the people of Taiwan .
President Ma Ying-jeou has emphasized the religious and humanitarian nature of the Dalai Lama's visit, but has said he would not meet him.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng criticized plans for today's international news conference, saying questions from reporters about politics could divert attention away from the humanitarian intent of the Nobel Peace Prize winner's visit.
Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung said the Dalai Lama possessed sufficient wisdom to discern whether his trip to Taiwan had a religious or a political motive. The Dalai Lama should come to help Taiwan , not to increase its problems, Wu said.
The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation said it would take the Dalai Lama by a specially chartered train from Taoyuan to Kaohsiung after the religious leader's arrival.
Kaohsiung County did not wait until the Dalai Lama's arrival to hold a Buddhist prayer meeting for the victims. Apart from Taiwan ese Buddhist leaders, the daylong event in Chiahsien Township yesterday was also attended by Catholic Cardinal Paul Shan and by political leaders. Ma visited two military camps and two typhoon-hit villages yesterday. Premier Liu told reporters that at least 80 percent of the people made homeless should find a new temporary home at the military settlements by tonight.
He said 1,500 homeless had already entered the military camps, with a further 2,500 to complete the move before Sept. 1, he said.
Dalai Lama in 2007
The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has begun his visit to Taiwan.  He has travelled to southern Taiwan to offer condolences to victims of the recent typhoon, Morokot, which was the worst in 50 years.

The visit has sparked condemnation from China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a rebel seeking independence for Tibet. Taiwan, in the form of the Republic of China, also assert their independence from Mainland China, against the country's wishes.

Upon the Dalai Lama's arrival at a Taipei train station, scuffles broke out between supporters and police, according to the Associated Press.  This morning he cancelled a planned international news conference after there was concern over the politicising of his visit.  The Dalai Lama's representative in Taiwan was quoted as saying "Don't politicize it, that will be no good for anybody."

As he boarded his flight yesterday, the Dalai Lama emphasised his visit was not of a political nature and instead he was invited by the Taiwanese people.  He is due to lead a mass prayer for the Buddhist followers on the island.