South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect says it's regretful that a Chinese Buddhist delegation withdrew from the World Fellowship of Buddhists Conference in Yeosu on Wednesday due to the presence of Tibetan delegates.

The Jogye Order said it’s deplorable for an international religious event to be used for political purposes, as the Chinese delegation did by protesting the participation of Tibetan delegation. The Chinese delegates abruptly left the ceremony during the opening ceremony when their demand that the Tibetans leave was not met.

The South Korean Buddhist order said it’s demanding an official apology from Chinese delegation, saying the Tibetan delegates are official members of the WFB and calls for them to leave run counter to the universal values of solidarity and the promotion of peace.