(TibetanReview.net, Jun19’24) — US President Joe Biden is going to take a decision on the recently, congressionally approved Tibet policy bill based on what he thinks is in the best interest of the United States amid warnings from China of “resolute measures” if he were to do so, reported the PTI news agency Jun 19. A high-level bipartisan delegation from the US Congress currently visiting Dharamshala, India, has made it clear that he will sign the bill, which it is discussing with the exile Tibetan leadership.
The bill, the Resolve Tibet Act, calls China’s armed invasion and annexation of Tibet at the turn of the second half of the last century illegal under international law and urges a peaceful resolution of the dispute through negotiations with the exile Tibetan leadership, with the US playing an active role at various levels to help bring this about.
“The President is going to do what he thinks is best on behalf of the American people, that’s what I can tell you,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has told reporters at her daily news conference on Jun 18 when asked about China’s warning.
The Act greatly enhances US support for Tibet – empowering State Department officials to actively and directly counter disinformation about Tibet from the Chinese government, reject false claims that Tibet has been part of China since “ancient times”, push for negotiations without preconditions between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives or the democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan community, and affirm the State Department’s responsibility to coordinate with other governments in multilateral efforts toward the goal of a negotiated agreement on Tibet.
Earlier in the day, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian had told reporters in Beijing, “Anyone or any force who attempts to destabilise Xizang to contain or suppress China will not succeed.”
“The US should not sign the bill. China will take resolute measures to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests,” he said.
But despite China’s warnings, Republican Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Dharamshala, India, has made it clear that President Biden will sign the bill.
The US delegation, which also includes former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arrived at the Kangra airport Jun 18 to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala today.
“We are very excited to meet with his Holiness tomorrow to talk about a number of things, including the bill that just passed Congress, which basically says the United States stands with the people of Tibet,” presswire18.com Jun 18 quoted McCaul as saying.
When asked if President Biden would sign the bill, McCaul has said, “Yes, he will.”