US President Joe Biden today signed “The Resolve Tibet Act,” which states that China’s ongoing occupation of Tibet must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, not through repression.
Biden’s administration called on China to resume direct talks with the Dalai Lama or his representatives without preconditions to resolve differences and reach a negotiated settlement on Tibet.
The Tibet-China Dispute Resolution Act, popularly known as the Tibet Solution Act, states that it is US policy that the Tibet issue should be resolved through peaceful means, through negotiations without preconditions, in accordance with international law.
“The Resolve Tibet Act exposes China’s brutal treatment of the Tibetan people,” said Tencho Gyatso, president of the International Campaign for Tibet.
The bill recognises Tibetans as people with their own religious, cultural, linguistic and historical identity. It acknowledges that China is suppressing the lifestyle of Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly called on China to grant the Tibetan people genuine autonomy, and under international law it is clear that the people have a right to self-determination. When House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) spoke before the bill was passed by Congress, he expressed hope that the new law would help “put the people of Tibet in charge of their future.”
The law promotes the resolution of the dispute between Tibet and China. It gives Tibet the right to counter misinformation about Tibet spread by the Chinese government. It rejects as “false” China’s claims that Tibet has been part of China since “ancient times”.
It promotes dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama without any preconditions.
The US could also “explore activities to improve the prospects”, including coordinating with other countries, for a negotiated settlement on Tibet.
The Central Tibetan Administration welcomed the agreement.
In a post on X, the Tibetan Administration said, “Breaking News: The RESOLVE Tibet Act is now a law, signed by US President Joe Biden on July 12, 2024. It helps the US counter misinformation from the PRC and support the rights of Tibetans.”
Latest News: The Resolve Tibet Act is now a law after being signed by US President Joe Biden on July 12, 2024.
This helps the US counter misinformation coming from the PRC and support the rights of Tibetans. pic.twitter.com/M93ERaX1pY
— Tibet.Net (@CTA_TibetdotNet) July 13, 2024
Students for a Free Tibet, an NGO that works in solidarity with the Tibetan people in their struggle for freedom and independence, said the law echoes the will of Tibetans.
In a post on X, the NGO said, “BREAKING: S. 138 the Resolve Tibet Act has officially been signed into US law! This law will enhance our ability to echo the will of the Tibetan people, particularly those within Tibet who have never accepted China’s 65-year illegal occupation of their homeland. #FreeTibet”.
BREAKING: S. 138 Resolve Tibet Act has been officially signed in the US
Law!
This legislation will enhance our ability to echo the will of the Tibetan people, particularly the people of Tibet who have never accepted China’s 65-year illegal occupation of their homeland.#free Tibet pic.twitter.com/7OMzwqcG6f
— Students for a Free Tibet (@SFTHQ) July 13, 2024
On Friday, a memorial event was held at the Gangki Tibetan Library in the north Indian hill town of Dharamsala to mark the anniversary of the unjust death of Tibetan freedom fighter Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche in Chinese custody, where speakers urged China to release all political prisoners.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
