Why in News ?
Days after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Resolve Tibet Act that called upon the Chinese government to engage with the Dalai Lama, an influential group of U.S. lawmakers met the Tibetan spiritual leader in Dharamshala on 19th June.
Addressing a rare public meeting, they stated that the United States will not allow Beijing to interfere in the “succession” of the Dalai Lama.
What is Resolve Tibet Act ?
The Resolve Tibet Act is a bipartisan bill to enhance US support for Tibet and promote dialogue between the People’s Republic of China and the Dalai Lama without preconditions. The proposed dialogue will aim to reach a negotiated agreement between the two sides.
Today’s News :
The delegation, led by the Republican chair of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul, expressed a firm U.S. position on Tibet and described China’s claim of having ancient links with Tibet as ‘ridiculous
“Our support for the Tibetan people is unwavering. Your dreams for better days remain alive. Beijing is relocating entire communities under the guise of development activities.
We know they are trying to control Tibetan Buddhism. It is time for Beijing to engage in unconditional dialogue with His Holiness,” Representative Gregory Meeks said, addressing the public gathering in McLeodganj, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Dalai Lama succession
Speaking at the beginning of the event, Mr. McCaul recollected the circumstances that surrounded the exile of the Dalai Lama in 1959 and how he led 80,000 followers across the Himalayas into India to safeguard the unique Tibetan culture and way of life.
The visit by the U.S. delegation comes days before the 89th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, at a time of speculation about the future of the institution of the Dalai Lama, which has held the Tibetan diaspora together since the late 1950s.
“Decades later, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to threaten the freedom of the Tibetan people. They have even attempted to insert themselves into the succession of the Dalai Lama.
We will not let that happen,” said Mr. McCaul, directly addressing the issue of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.
Mr. McCaul, the U.S. Representative from Texas, also had an hour-long interaction with the Dalai Lama, and generously praised the elderly spiritual figure, lauding his commitment to non-violent methods to advance the cause of Tibetans.