The Dalai Lama met First Lady Hillary Clinton in the Map Room of the White House and had the President ``drop by'' -- an unsubtle protocol instrument the Americans use to minimise offense to the Chinese by making it seem like an informal, off-chance meeting.

The Dalai Lama visits Washington almost every year but his trip this time has acquired a particularly sharp edge given the kind of access he has had to the American political elite and the media coverage. Similar ``drop bys'' saw the Dalai Lama meet Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, along many other movers and shakers in the capital.

All this attention has driven the Chinese government ballistic, particularly since Beijing had made it clear even before the DalaiLama's visit that it would not countenance Washington officially entertaining him. ``We ask US leaders not to meet the Dalai Lama to avoid harming China-US relations,'' foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao bluntly told a news briefing in Beijing.

This time, the US ignored the warning. To aggravate matters, the Clinton administration simultaneously nettled Beijing by sending energy secretary Bill Richardson to Taiwan, a country which China regards as a renegade province. He is the first high US official to visit Taiwan in nearly two years.

Richardson carried a letter from President Clinton to the Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui in which Clinton referred to his trips to Taiwan and said, ``All of America admires the success of Taiwan's democracy. I want all of you to know the high level of importance I personally attach to the United States' relationship with Taiwan''. Clinton had traveled to Taiwan several times as governor of Arkansas.

While Washington has been seen to be sensitive, if not feckless,in the past to China's concern on both Tibet and Taiwan, the latest moves seem to up the ante after a spell of cosying up to Beijing. On his visit to China, Clinton was seen to have badly let down Taiwan and Tibet causes by not taking up Beijing's bullying and oppression which are a big issues on the foreign policy front back home.

But on Tuesday, the US President expressed support for a new dialogue over Tibet and aides said he is likely to raise the issue during a meeting with President Jiang next week at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ``The President welcomed the Dalai Lama's commitment to non-violence in his efforts to initiate a dialogue with the Chinese government. The President reiterated the strong commitment of the United States to support preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural, linguistic heritage, and to protection of human rights of Tibetans,'' White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said.

In his talk with reporters, the Dalai Lamaindicated that his expected dialogue with the Chinese leadership was not materialising because Beijing had declined through informal channels to coordinate a mutually acceptable statement aimed at initiating the talks.

To begin formal talks, Beijing had insisted that the Dalai Lama should first repudiate all separatist notions and proclaim Tibet an inalienable part of China, with a promise that he will end all activities aimed at fomenting Tibetan independence.

The Dalai Lama's supporters said he is willing to repudiate outright independnce, but he would want certain guarantees which would help preserve Tibet's culture and heritage.

``I'm willing to make a formal response... but I would like to consult with the Chinese government about the substance of my formal response. Up to now, the consultations have not materialized so I'm not ready to make a public response,'' the Dalai Lama told reporters.