A prominent delegation from the United States Congress, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has arrived in Dharamsala for a two-day visit. Their primary agenda includes meeting with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, on Wednesday morning. This visit marks a significant diplomatic move amid ongoing tensions between the US and China over Tibet-related policies.
Chairman McCaul expressed enthusiasm about the visit, highlighting the delegation’s interest in discussing various issues, notably the recently passed Tibet Policy Bill. This legislation, approved by overwhelming margins in both the Senate and House of Representatives, reaffirms US support for Tibet and aims to counter what it describes as Chinese “disinformation” regarding Tibet’s history and culture.
Ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, other US delegation meet Dalai Lama in Himachal's McLeod Ganj
Delegation Says President Joe Biden will sign a bill that aims to press China to resolve the Tibet dispute#NancyPelosi #DalaiLama #USCongress #Tibet #Dharamshala #China #JoeBiden https://t.co/qhCzHgTyue pic.twitter.com/5ON6IT0eFn
— Ritam English (@EnglishRitam) June 19, 2024
Responding to the visit, Beijing has strongly objected, urging the US to uphold its commitment to recognize Tibet as part of China and refrain from supporting Tibetan independence. Chinese officials assert that Tibet, referred to as Xizang in China, is an integral part of its territory and condemn external interference in what they deem as purely domestic affairs.
The US Congress recently voted decisively in favor of the Promoting and Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, with a significant bipartisan majority. The bill includes provisions to allocate resources aimed at countering Chinese narratives and fostering dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile in Bharat for over six decades.
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The visit to Dharamsala underscores ongoing US efforts to support Tibetan autonomy and human rights amid escalating geopolitical tensions with China. The delegation’s engagement with the Dalai Lama is expected to reaffirm US commitments to Tibetans while navigating delicate diplomatic relations with Beijing.
As the delegation prepares for their meeting with the Dalai Lama, the world watches closely to see how this diplomatic interaction will influence US-China relations and the ongoing discourse on Tibet’s political status.
The outcome of this visit and the eventual signing of the Tibet Policy Bill by President Joe Biden are likely to have lasting implications for international diplomacy and human rights advocacy in the region.
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