US lawmakers to meet the Dalai Lama; China urges Biden not to sign Tibet Bill

The delegation is on a two-day visit to Dharamsala and will meet the Dalai Lama on Wednesday morning, officials said in Dharamsala. Pelosi had visited Taiwan in August 2022 and Beijing had reacted strongly against the US delegation’s visit there as well.

After arrival at the Gaggal Airport in Dharamsala, McCaul expressed enthusiasm about the visit and said, “We are excited to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to talk about many things, including the Bill which passed by Congress basically says that the United States of America stands with the people of Tibet.” Asked if US President Joe Biden will sign the bill, McCaul said, “Yes, he will.”

High-level officials from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), including Dolma Tsering, the Exile Tibetan Minister for the Department of Information and International Relations, greeted the Congressional delegation at the airport. Dharamsala is the seat of power for Tibet’s government in exile since the spiritual leader stepped into India six decades ago.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, urged Biden not to sign the bipartisan Tibet Policy Bill adopted by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives. The Bill awaits Biden’s signature to make it into a law, according to media reports in Washington.

The US House of Representatives voted 391-26 last Wednesday to approve the Promoting and Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, which was passed by the Senate, a media report said, adding, that the Bill would direct funds to counter what it calls “disinformation” from Beijing about Tibet’s history, people and institutions. The bill seeks to counter China’s narrative about its control over Tibet and promote dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama.

The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi reacted sharply to the visit by the US delegation and “urged” the US side to “adhere to its commitments of recognizing Xizang as part of China and not supporting “Xizang independence”.” China officially refers to Tibet as Xizang.

“China will take resolute measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests,” the Chinese Embassy Spokesperson tweeted.

The spokesperson said, “It’s known by all that the 14th #DalaiLama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion. We urge the US side to fully recognize the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group, honor the commitments the US has made to China on issues related to Xizang, stop sending the wrong signal to the world.”

“Xizang has always been part of China since ancient times. Xizang’s affairs are purely China’s domestic affairs and no external interference will ever be allowed. No one and no force should ever attempt to destabilize Xizang to contain and suppress China. Such attempts will never succeed,” the Chinese Embassy said. It also tagged McCaul and Pelosi.

With PTI inputs