In a significant visit to Dharamshala on Tuesday, the Republican Chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, confirmed US President Joe Biden's plan to sign the 'Resolve Tibet Act', recently passed by the US Congress. The US delegation, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also arrived at Kangra airport to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Dharamshala.
Central Tibetan Administration representatives welcomed the American delegation. The 'Resolve Tibet Act' calls on Beijing to get back in touch with Tibetan leaders to mediate their conflict with China over governance peacefully. McCaul emphasised the importance of the bill that Congress passed while expressing excitement about the next meeting with the Dalai Lama.
"We are very excited to see His Holiness tomorrow to talk about many things including the bill we passed out of Congress which says that the United States stands with the people of Tibet," McCaul stated, as quoted by news agency ANI. When asked if Biden would sign the bill, McCaul confirmed saying, "Yes, he will."
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US Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks shared the sentiment of delegation, emphasising their purpose of reinforcing the resolution and meeting with the Dalai Lama. " I am very excited to see His Holiness, to show that the US is with him," he said, as per ANI. Meanwhile, US Congressman Gregory Meeks also expressed his expectation of meeting, stressing America's solidarity with the Dalai Lama.
US Legislation Urges China To 'Cease Propagation Of Disinformation About History Of Tibet'
As per a report of Radio Free Asia, the US Congress earlier this week passed a bill urging Beijing to get back in touch with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their disagreement over the status and governance of Tibet.
The bill 'Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act' passed by the US House of Representatives, also known as the 'Resolve Tibet Act', now moves to President Joe Biden for a signature to become law, as reported by Radio Free Asia.
The position of Beijing that Tibet has been a part of China since ancient times is rejected by the US legislation, which also calls on Beijing to "cease its propagation of disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama."
Additionally, it urged China to start negotiations about the governance of Tibet with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders. The Dalai Lama is Tibet's spiritual leader. There haven't been any official negotiations between the parties since 2010.
The seven-member US delegation includes Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita; Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks; Rep. Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Nicole Malliotakis; Rep. Jim McGovern; and Rep. Ami Bera.
The delegation's visit to meet with the Dalai Lama underlined the support of America for Tibet amidst diplomatic tensions with China, intending to strengthen ties and advocate for Tibetan rights on the international stage.