Update | Chinese state-backed website warns celebrities Faye Wong, Tony Leung and Hu Jun to avoid links with Tibetan ‘separatists’

A government-backed website in China focused on Tibet has criticised Chinese celebrities after they were pictured at a Buddhist assembly with members of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Singer Faye Wong, Hong Kong actorTony Leung Chiu-wai and mainland actor Hu Jun were photographed at the gathering in India with the Tibetan spiritual leader’s staff, Tibet.cn reported.

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China’s government considers the Dalai a separatist intent on splitting the nation. He denies the allegation and says he merely wants greater autonomy for Tibet within China.

A commentary on the website said many Western film stars had been criticised for their support for the Dalai Lama and Chinese celebrities should have learned the lesson.

“Why do Faye Wong and Tony Leung still sit together with them knowing they are the heads of separatist forces? What on earth are they doing?” the article said.

The celebrities were attending an event on February 14 commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the birth of the late predecessor of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Tibetan Buddhism’s third-highest spiritual leader, the Karmapa’s office said.

Karma Namgyal, secretary of the Karmapa’s office, said the presence of the three along with one of the ministers of the Central Tibetan Administration and speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile was “coincidental”.