(TibetanReview.net, Jun13’24) — A bipartisan bill seeking to counter Beijing’s narrative about China’s control over Tibet and promote dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama (or his representatives or the democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan community) is set to become law with US President Joe Biden expected to sign it anytime soon, following its final House approval on Jun 12.
Sponsored by Democrat Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the House of Representatives voted 391-26, more than the required two-thirds majority, to approve the bill, which is titled as “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act” (or “Resolve Tibet Act” in short).
Though the House already passed it in Feb 2024, the bill returned from the Senate (introduced by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley), where it was unanimously passed on May 23, but with a few amendments, for its concurrence.
While the US State Department considers the so-called autonomous region and other Tibetan areas as part of China, the bill’s supporters note that the US government has never taken the position that the Chinese Communist Party’s occupation of the region in the 1950’s abided by international law.
And so, the bill makes it US position that the dispute between Tibet and China remains unresolved in accordance with international law.
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Once signed by the President, the bill will also make it US policy that “Tibet” refers not only to the Tibet autonomous region as defined by the Chinese government, but also the historical Tibetan areas that China has incorporated as or into Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.
As summarized by Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT, savetibet.org) Jun 12, the bill also:
- Empowers the Special Coordinator for Tibet to actively and directly counter disinformation about Tibet from the Chinese government and Communist Party, including working to ensure that US government statements and documents counter disinformation about Tibet.
- Rejects as “inaccurate” China’s false claims that Tibet has been part of China since “ancient times.”
- Promotes substantive dialogue without preconditions between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives or the democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan community. The US could also explore activities to improve prospects for dialogue leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet.
- Affirms the State Department ‘s responsibility to coordinate with other governments in multilateral efforts toward the goal of a negotiated agreement on Tibet.
- Encourages China’s government to address the aspirations of the Tibetan people regarding their distinct historical, cultural, religious and linguistic identity.
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The bill’s authors argue that the Chinese government is “systematically suppressing” the ability of Tibetans to preserve their religion, culture, language, history, way of life, and environment, and assert that the Tibetan people have a right to “self-determination”, noted the scmp.com Jun 12.
Speaking on the House floor as he raised the bill, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) has said, “the US strongly condemns all oppression and coercion of Tibetans.” An original sponsor of the bill, McCaul added that it will help “put the people of Tibet in charge of their own future.”
Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), the author of the bill, while urging his colleagues to pass the bill, has said that with this legislation, “we hope to restart dialogue between Tibet and China.”
Representative Bill Keating (D-MA) has said the bill calls out Beijing’s “oppressive tactics and relentless disinformation campaign” about Tibet.
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Following the bill’s passage, McGovern has said, “The People’s Republic of China has systematically denied Tibetans the right to self-determination and continues to deliberately erase Tibetan religion, culture, and language. The ongoing oppression of the Tibetan people is a grave tragedy, and our bill provides further tools that empower both America and the international community to stand up for justice and peace.”
Likewise, McCaul has said, “If the CCP truly does respect ‘sovereignty’ as it claims to do then it will engage in peaceful dialogue with the Tibetans to resolve this conflict, not force the Tibetans to accept a CCP proposal. Passing this bipartisan bill demonstrates America’s resolve that the CCP’s status quo in Tibet is not acceptable.”
From the Senate, Merkley has said: “The people of Tibet deserve to be in charge of their own future, and, today, Congress has voted to stand with Tibetans in their struggle for freedom and self-determination. … I look forward to President Biden swiftly signing this bill into law—the people of Tibet cannot wait any longer.
Also, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) has said: “I look forward to this important effort becoming law and working with my colleagues and the Administration to ensure swift and effective implementation.”
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Thanking the main sponsors of the bill – Representative Jim McGovern, Chairman Michael McCaul, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senator Todd Young – for their leadership, ICT President Tencho Gyatso has said, “The Resolve Tibet Act is a strong message to China that the Tibet issue has to be resolved through negotiation instead of an assault on Tibet’s unique and ancient civilization.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington has called the bill’s final passage an interference in China’s internal affairs.
“The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion, aiming to separate Tibet from China,” rfa.org Jun 12 quoted Liu Pengyu as saying, delivering the all too familiar Chinese response to any international support for the Tibetan people’s rights. “We hope that the global community can see through the true nature of the Dalai clique and respect China’s core interests and major concerns.
Liu has said “China will take all necessary measures to defend its interests.”