In a major development for the Tibetan cause, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee has unanimously approved the ‘Resolve Tibet Act’, a bill designed to strengthen US efforts in urging China to resume negotiations with the Dalai Lama’s envoys. This advancement, reported by the International Campaign for Tibet, marks a crucial step in addressing the longstanding Tibet-China dispute.
The bill, sponsored by Representatives Jim McGovern and Michael McCaul, as well as Senators Jeff Merkley and Todd Young, calls for the Chinese government to re-engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives or the democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan people. Notably, this negotiation process has been at a standstill since 2010.
A key aspect of the Resolve Tibet Act is its challenge to the Chinese claim that Tibet has always been part of China. The bill empowers the US State Department to actively counter this misinformation and reaffirms that Tibet has a distinct religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity.
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The approval of the bill comes just after President Joe Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Biden raised concerns about China‘s human rights abuses in Tibet. Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul emphasized the importance of the bill, welcoming Tibetan attendees at the hearing and predicting its success in both the House and Senate.
Rep. Jim McGovern, another leading sponsor, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the historical truth about Tibet and urged China to restart dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Similarly, Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks supported the bill, citing Beijing’s repressive actions against Tibetans and its failure to engage in dialogue.
The Resolve Tibet Act outlines several directives for the US, including promoting dialogue without preconditions between the Chinese government and Tibetan representatives and coordinating with other governments for a negotiated agreement on Tibet. It also calls on the Chinese government to address the aspirations of the Tibetan people concerning their distinct identity.
The bill counters Chinese propaganda about Tibet’s history and status, with Tibet ranking as one of the least-free countries according to Freedom House. Shocking human rights violations in Tibet include the mass collection of DNA from Tibetans and the separation of Tibetan children from their families at state-run boarding schools.
The Resolve Tibet Act represents a significant step by the US in supporting the Tibetan people and pushing for a peaceful resolution to the Tibet–China conflict. It is a reaffirmation of the US’s commitment to international law and the rights of the Tibetan people to determine their destiny. As the bill now proceeds to the House floor, it carries with it the hopes of the Tibetan community for stronger international support and a peaceful resolution to their plight.
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