US lawmakers meet with Dalai Lama in India’s Dharamshala, angering China – KGET 17

ASHWINI BHATIA, Associated Press

7 minutes ago

FILE – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets a guest as he leaves after attending a special event where exiled Tibetans made traditional offerings to him and prayed for his long life, at Tsuglakhang Temple in Dharamshala, India, June 11, 2024. A bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation met with the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala, India, on Wednesday, in a visit that China has criticized because it views the exiled leader as a dangerous separatist. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, file)

DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — A bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation met with the Dalai Lama at his residence in India’s Dharamshala on Wednesday, angering China, which views the exiled leader as a dangerous separatist.

The high-level delegation, led by Republican Michael McCaul and including former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arrived the day before in the hillside city that the Nobel Peace Prize winner calls home. general since he fled Tibet after the failure of an uprising against Tibet. Chinese rule in 1959. India considers Tibet part of China, although it hosts Tibetan exiles.

The meeting with the spiritual leader is expected to focus on the Resolve Tibet Act, recently passed by the US Congress, aimed at encouraging dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials that could lead to a peaceful resolution of the dispute between Tibet and Beijing. The bill will now go to the White House for approval by President Joe Biden.

The visit comes as the United States and China have intensified negotiations in recent months, aiming to normalize their tense relations. But news of the visit and the subject of the bill triggered a swift response from China.

After arriving Tuesday, the American delegation met with officials of the Tibetan government in exile, which wants more autonomy for Tibet.

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday at a monastery just outside the 88-year-old Dalai Lama’s residence where the meeting took place, waving American and Tibetan flags in a show of support.

China does not recognize the Tibetan government in exile and has not held any dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama since 2010.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McCaul highlighted the importance of the bill, which he said demonstrates that “the United States of America stands with the people of Tibet.”

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, urged Washington not to support Tibetan independence and said the White House “must not sign the bill” or Beijing will take “resolute action.” ”, without specifying what these measures could be. .

“Everyone knows that the 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion,” Lin added on Tuesday, urging the US side to “not have no contact with the Dalai Lama group in any form, and let’s stop sending the wrong signal to the world.”

The Dalai Lama denies being a separatist and says he only advocates substantial autonomy and the protection of Tibet’s indigenous Buddhist culture.

The Tibetan spiritual leader is used to engaging with US officials, he has met with every recent US president – ​​from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama – with the exception of Donald Trump and he has yet to meet Biden.

Beijing, meanwhile, has repeatedly asked the United States not to interfere in Tibetan affairs and has maintained that the Tibetan people have benefited from social stability and economic growth under its rule.

The Dalai Lama is expected to travel to the United States on Thursday to treat his knees, but it is unclear whether he will meet with officials during his stay.

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AP writers Krutika Pathi in New Delhi and Didi Tang in Washington contributed to this report.