Daimler issues second apology to China over Dalai Lama

Berlin Feb 8 (IANS) German carmaker Daimler on Thursday issued a second emphatic apology to China after its subsidiary Mercedes Benz quoted the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in an Instagram post.

It initially apologized on Weibo China s Twitter-like platform on Tuesday over the advert that showed a car with the words: "Look at situations from all angles and you will become more open " the BBC reported.

Instagram is blocked in China but the post was reposted by Chinese internet users causing a commotion.

The company s first apology was welcomed by China s Foreign Ministry but dismissed by the People s Daily daily which said it "lacks sincerity and reflects the German carmaker s lack of understanding of Chinese culture and values".

Earlier this year China shut down the Chinese websites of Marriott International for a week after the firm listed Tibet and others as separate countries in a Chinese-language questionnaire to customers.

--IANS
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