BEIJING — China said today it "resolutely opposes" a decision by Taiwan's president to allow the Dalai Lama to visit the island.

A spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said a visit by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, "in whatever form and capacity," would be condemned by China, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The spokesman, who was not named, said the invitation was "an attempt to sabotage the hard-earned good situation in cross-Strait relations."

Beijing has long vilified the Dalai Lama for what they say are his attempts to fight for independence in Tibet, which has been under Communist rule for decades.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou today agreed to honor the invitation extended to the Dalai Lama by the leaders of seven local municipalities who wanted the spiritual leader to visit victims of Typhoon Morakot from Monday to Sept. 4.

"The Dalai Lama could come to Taiwan to help rest the souls of the dead and also pray for the well-being of the survivors," Ma said.

Earlier this month, Morakot, the worst typhoon to hit the island in 50 years, killed at least 670 people.