On Wednesday, June 12th, the United States House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill authorizing the administration to counter the false information regarding Tibet from the Chinese Communist Party and urging Beijing to engage in unconditional dialogue to peacefully resolve the long-standing dispute with Tibet.
The bill, known as the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act,” was overwhelmingly approved by the House with 391 votes in favor and 26 against. This legislation, which had already passed the Senate at the end of last month, will now be sent to the White House for President Biden’s signature to become law.
The bill aims to amend the content of the 2002 Tibet Policy Act and highlights that the Tibetan people possess unique religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical characteristics. It demands that the Chinese authorities cease spreading false information about Tibetan history, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions including the Dalai Lama.
The bill’s co-sponsors include Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Jim McGovern, the committee’s ranking Democrat.
McCaul stated, “Tibetans, like all people, have the right to religious freedom, including freedom from (Chinese Communist Party) surveillance, scrutiny, and detention.”
“This bipartisan bill signals America’s determination that the current situation in Tibet under the Chinese Communist regime is unacceptable,” McCaul added.
McGovern remarked, “The People’s Republic of China systematically denies Tibetans their right to self-determination and continues to deliberately erase Tibetan religion, culture, and language. The ongoing oppression of the Tibetan people is a profound tragedy, and our bill provides further tools for the United States and the international community to stand up for justice and peace.”
Lawmakers emphasized that this legislation will allow State Department officials to actively and directly refute the false information circulated by the Chinese Communist Party about Tibet, countering the false claim that Tibet has been historically part of China.
The bill also calls for the United States to push the Chinese authorities to engage in negotiations with the Dalai Lama or his representatives regarding the future of Tibet.
Since 2010, there have been no formal dialogues between Tibet and the Chinese authorities. The main obstacle to further dialogue is China’s demand that the Dalai Lama must acknowledge that “Tibet has been part of China since ancient times.” The Dalai Lama has refused to make such an assertion, stating that it is not accurate. Consequently, the dialogue between the two sides remains at a standstill.
The bill states that the U.S. government has never taken the position that Tibet has historically been part of China and underscores that the dispute between Tibet and China must be resolved peacefully through dialogue without preconditions, in accordance with international law including the United Nations Charter.
It emphasizes that the United States urges the Chinese government to respect the aspirations of the Tibetan people for their unique historical, cultural, religious, and linguistic characteristics.
The bill also declares that the U.S. State Department is responsible for coordinating multilateral efforts with other countries to achieve the goal of reaching an agreement on the Tibet issue through negotiations.