US supports Tibetans, says Congressman after Dalai Lama meeting

New Delhi:

The Tibet Policy bill was extremely popular in the US Congress and was “the voice of one nation, showing that the United States supports the people of Tibet”, said Michael McCaul, chairman of the committee. of Foreign Affairs of the United States House of Representatives, who led a delegation that met with the Dalai Lama. Lama in Dharamshala, told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. “Tibet has never been part of China. It’s just a lie. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is spreading disinformation,” he added.

China watched warily as an unprecedented bipartisan delegation – led by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mr McCaul – came to India and met with the Dalai Lama, underscoring an acceleration in diplomatic initiative American decision on a long-pending human rights issue.

India, which hosted the Dalai Lama in 1959, has long supported the Tibetan cause and the Tibetan government in exile headquartered in Dharamshala. This visit comes in a context of tense relations between India and China after the last face-to-face in Ladakh four years ago, which has not yet been resolved.

Pressuring for Tibet’s autonomy within China, the American delegation presented the Dalai Lama with a copy of the Resolve Tibet Act, a bipartisan bill that pledges American support for Tibet, contradicts Chinese rhetoric and aims to promote the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Beijing. The bill, passed by the US Senate and House of Representatives, awaits US President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.

In his interview with NDTV, Mr. McCaul said, “Human rights are very important to the American people,” and cited the cases of two women who managed to escape torture in Chinese prisons.

Asked what the US message was to China, which has already criticized the visit, he replied: “Don’t destroy the culture of these people, their religion… Every people and every country has the right to self-determination.”

Earlier in the day, China asked the United States to respect its sensitivity on Tibet-related issues and suggested that the Dalai Lama “correct” its policy proposals before it can begin negotiations with him.

“We urge the United States to clearly see the sensitivity and importance of Xizang-related issues and sincerely respect China’s core interests in its comments on Xizang, refrain from any forms of contact with the Xizang group. Dalai Lama and stop sending bad signals to the world,” the Chinese said. Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also criticized reports that the Tibetan government in exile used the new US law to bring China to the negotiating table and urge other countries to pressure Beijing.

“The so-called Tibet government in exile is a purely separatist political group and an illegal organization in total violation of the Chinese constitution and laws. It is not recognized by any country,” he said.

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