New Delhi: The United States on Wednesday, June 19, backed Tibet on its ongoing issues with China and refuted Beijing’s claim on it. The US delegation asserted that the US will support Tibetan’s rights to return to their homeland. The comments were made at a felicitation ceremony hosted by the Tibetan parliament for the US delegation which includes Republican Representative Michael McCaul and Democratic former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US delegation met the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Himachal Pradesh.
While speaking to the Tibetans, former speaker Pelosi said that the United States is well aware of the issue of the ‘Freedom of Tibet’ seeing the pain of the people. She added that soon US will send a message to China after President Biden signs the Tibetan Policy Bill.
“This is the message to the Chinese government that we have an understanding on the issue of freedom of Tibet. We saw ourselves in the pain of the people of Tibet. We know what the Chinese government is and they should get a message. This bill will soon be signed by President Joe Biden and it will be a message.”
“Chinese are trying to teach Tibetians in their way to scuttle their culture. We got the votes to pass the bill with people’s support,” she added.
Furthermore, Rep McCaul asserted that the US knows that Tibet is not a part of China and backed Tibet saying, “America will support Tibet.”
“US knows that it is not true that Tibet is a part of China…America will support Tibet,” he said.
“People have the right to self-determination, and to aggressively challenge CCP propaganda against Tibet (details of the bill being signed in coming days). Bill will be signed in the coming days,” he added.
Spekaing to the media, US Representative Congressman Gregory Meeks said, “China can express unhappiness if it wants. We are going to stand for what is right. What is right is to make sure that Tibetans have freedom. They are able to return to their native land and they are able to keep their culture & history…That’s what is important…”
What is the Tibet Policy Bill?
The US Congress, with the support of both Republicans and Democrats, passed the Resolve Tibet Act earlier this week. The act calls for a peaceful resolution of the dispute over the status and governance of Tibet. It also calls on Beijing to resume dialogue with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama which stalled after 2010. The US House of Representatives passed ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’, also known as the ‘Resolve Tibet Act’. It will become an act after the signature of President Joe Biden.
The Resolve Tibet Act is a bipartisan bill to enhance US support for Tibet and promote dialogue between the People’s Republic of China and the Dalai Lama toward a peaceful resolution of the long-standing dispute between Tibet and China.
China Warns US of ‘Resolute Measures’
After the US delegates reached Dharamshala, China expressed “strong concerns” and warned the US of resolute measures if Biden signs the Resolve Tibet Act.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian said, “The 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion. We are gravely concerned over the relevant reports and urge the US side to fully recognise the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group, honour the commitments the US has made to China on issues related to Xizang, have no contact with the Dalai group in any form, and stop sending the wrong signal to the world.”
China officially refers to Tibet as ‘Xizang.’
Further arguing Tibet to be China’s internal affair, Lin said, “We urge the US side to adhere to its commitments of recognising Xizang as part of China and not supporting ‘Xizang independence.’ The US must not sign the bill into law. China will take resolute measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.”
“No one and no force should ever attempt to destabilise Tibet to contain and suppress China. Such attempts will never succeed,” he said.
‘Message to China…’: US Vows Strong Support for Tibet After Meeting Dalai Lama world-news World News | Latest International Global World News | Todays Breaking News Headlines
