Daimler apologizes to China for quoting Dalai Lama

BERLIN - German carmaker Daimler wrote to Chinese Ambassador to Germany Shi Mingde on Wednesday, apologizing for quoting the Dalai Lama in its social media post.

In a written letter, Daimler's Chairman Dieter Zetsche and Daimler Greater China's Chairman Hubertus Troika expressed sincere apology to China.

They said Daimler has no intention of questioning or challenging in any manner China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

They said Daimler offers no support, assistance, aid or help to anyone who intentionally subverts or attempts to subvert China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Daimler deeply regrets the hurt and grief that its negligent and insensitive mistake has caused to the Chinese people.

Daimler fully and unreservedly recognizes the seriousness of the situation, which the company has caused and sincerely apologizes for.

Daimler on Monday posted one of its white cars on a beach along with a quote of Dalai Lama on Instagram, then it deleted the post soon and apologized to China in a statement published on China's Twitter-like microblogging site Weibo on Tuesday.

The Dalai Lama is a political exile with ambitions to split China's Tibet from the Chinese territory under the guise of religion.