'Right now, he is exercising self-restraint,' Wu told reporters.

'There are still a couple of days left. I hope he can see to it that his trip is devoted to human compassion and does not touch on politics.'

'Taiwan was hit by such a big disaster,' Wu added. 'He has come to help us, not to increase our difficulties.'

A local official in southern Taiwan who has close ties with the opposition, pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party invited the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan and bless the survivors of Morakot, which hit southern Taiwan Aug 8.

President Ma Ying-jeou, who has been seeking to improve Taipei-Beijing ties since he took office in May 2008, approved the visit, triggering protests from China.

The 73-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader arrived Sunday night from India, where he has been leading the Tibetan government-in-exile since he fled China in 1959.

He visited the typhoon disaster areas to comfort the survivors and held Tuesday's prayer meeting to appease the souls of the typhoon victims.

He was expected to leave Taipei Friday morning to return to Dharamsala in northern India.