China postpones EU summit over Dalai Lama

A year of strained relations
The summit postponement marks another downturn in a year of strained relations between China and France.

China, the Olympic Games host, was furious that vociferous and unruly protests disrupted the passage of the Olympic flame through Paris in April.

Sarkozy also was the first world leader to raise the possibility of skipping the games' opening ceremony to protest China's violent crackdown in Tibet after riots and protests there in March. A piqued China responded by discouraging tourism to France and with calls from Chinese to boycott French products. Sarkozy backed off and attended the Olympic ceremony.

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