WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- U.S.-China relations will be strained by Washington's move to sell arms to Taiwan and a meeting with the Dalai Lama, experts say.

The pending approval by U.S. President Barack Obama of the sale of Black Hawk helicopters and anti-missile batteries to Taiwan early this year, coupled with an upcoming meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama -- whom Chinese officials consider to a separatist -- will likely put pressure on relations with Beijing, The Washington Post reported Sunday.