A high-level seven-member bipartisan US Congressional delegation visited Dharamsala, India from June 18-19 and met with the Dalai Lama and leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The delegation was led by Representative Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Other delegation members were Nancy Pelosi, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Gregory Meeks, Nicole Malliotakis, Jim McGovern, and Ami Bera (D-CA). The delegation was accompanied by their family members and staff.
The delegation arrived just days after the passage of the ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’ in both Houses of U.S. Congress. The bill also known as the Resolve Tibet Act has been sent to President Joe Biden for his signature, before it becomes a law.The bill challenges Beijing’s claim that Tibet has always been part of China and calls on China to stop spreading false information about Tibet’s history, people, and institutions, including the Dalai Lama. Additionally, it urges China to initiate discussions with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders regarding Tibet’s governance.
“I want to say greetings to the great people in Dharamshala. We are very excited to see His Holiness tomorrow to talk about many things including the bill (Resolve Tibet Act) we just passed out of Congress that basically says the United States of America stands with the people of Tibet,” McCaul told local media at the Dharamsala Airport. He confirmed that Biden will sign the bill into law.
“They (China) are trying to erase Tibetan culture by reducing the use of the Tibetan language. The ethnic Han population is being assimilated with the Tibetan population in Tibet. We have seen in Tibet that the Chinese government is trying to educate Tibetan children in the Chinese way to reduce the knowledge of Tibetan language. They (China) are trying something that we cannot let them get away with” said Pelosi.
Sending a stern message to President Xi Jinping
Members of the delegation met with the Dalai Lama at his residence on June 19. McCaul told the Dalai Lama that the delegation was honored to be in his presence and hailed him for maintaining “peace of mind, compassion and forgiveness to your enemies” despite facing adversities. They also addressed the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and met with leaders of the CTA.
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