A bill headed for US President Joe Biden’s desk would contest China’s claims to Tibet and attempt to open up communication between China and the Dalai Lama.
This comes after the US House of Representatives voted on Wednesday, June 12, to adopt the bill that had previously been approved by the Senate.
The House of Representatives enacted the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act” by a vote of 391-26.
The bill, which is co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, would fund efforts to counteract what it refers to as Chinese “disinformation” about the history and people of Tibet.
The law disagrees with China’s assertion that Tibet has always been a part of China. Additionally, it would become official US policy that Tibet’s status dispute is still open.
Furthermore, it defines “Tibet” in a way that includes Tibetan regions inside other Chinese provinces in addition to the Tibet autonomous region.
“Passing this bill demonstrates America’s resolve that the [Chinese Communist Party] status quo in Tibet is not acceptable,” stated Republican representative Michael McCaul of Texas upon the bill’s approval. “I can think of no greater message or gift to the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet.”
China claims that Tibet has been ruled by China for more than seven centuries, although many Tibetans contest this claim, claiming that Tibet was independent for the majority of those years.
Supporters of the bill, according to the newspaper, also point out that the US government has never acknowledged the legitimacy of China’s 1950s overthrow of Tibet. They contend that Tibet’s people have the right to self-determination and that China is actively destroying Tibetan culture.
