海角大神

Big US spending bill includes gift for Tibetans, Dalai Lama

Tacked onto Congress鈥� end-of-year spending bill was legislation supporting Tibetans鈥� right to choose a successor to their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Chinese government denounced the measure, accusing the US of meddling in its internal affairs.

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The political head of Tibetans in exile on Tuesday welcomed legislation passed by the United States Congress that reaffirms the rights of Tibetans to choose a successor to their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, a move that infuriated China.

The legislation calls for the establishment of a U.S. consulate in Tibet鈥檚 main city of Lhasa, the absolute right of Tibetans to choose a successor to the Dalai Lama, and the preservation of Tibet鈥檚 environment.

The measure was tacked onto the year-end spending bill聽approved by both chambers of Congress on Monday, which also included the nearly-$900 billion COVID-19 relief package in its $2.3 trillion of spending authorization.聽

The legislation regarding the Dalai Lama had been approved in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, 聽in the Senate.

鈥淚t鈥檚 actually great news for human rights in Tibet to see this included in the overall legislation,鈥� Washington reporter Haley Byrd Wilt.

China regards the exiled Dalai Lama as a dangerous 鈥渟plittist,鈥� or separatist, and the latest show of support from the U.S. Congress could increase already tense ties between the two countries.

Lobsang Sangay, president of the Tibetan Central Administration (CTA), which is known as the Tibetan government-in-exile, said Monday鈥檚 passing by the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate of the Tibet Policy and Support Act (TPSA) was historic.

The Chinese foreign ministry accused the U.S. of meddling in its internal affairs and warned the U.S. against signing the legislation into law, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing on Tuesday.

鈥淲e urge the U.S. side to stop meddling in China鈥檚 internal affairs and refrain from signing into law these negative clauses and acts, lest it further harms our further cooperation and bilateral relations,鈥� Mr. Wang said.

China seized control of Tibet after its troops entered the region in 1950 in what it calls a 鈥減eaceful liberation.鈥� Tibet has since become one of the most restricted and sensitive areas in the country.

The legislation also proposes a 鈥渞egional framework on water security鈥� and greater participation from the community in dialogue with China on monitoring the region鈥檚 environment.

鈥淭he People鈥檚 Republic of China has already completed water transfer programs diverting billions of cubic meters of water yearly and has plans to divert more waters from the Tibetan plateau in China,鈥� the bill said.

Environmental groups and Tibetan rights activists have expressed concern about China鈥檚 hydropower ambitions in the region, saying they could affect downstream water supplies.

China has said its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama鈥檚 successor, which many see as a coercive attempt to control Tibet, where ethnic Tibetans make up about 90% of the population.

鈥淏y passing the TPSA, Congress has sent its message loud and clear that Tibet remains a priority for the United States and that it will continue its steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA,鈥� Mr. Sangay said.

鈥淭his is a victory for the Tibetan freedom struggle.鈥�

Relations between China and the United States have deteriorated to their worst in decades over a range of issues, including trade, Taiwan, human rights, Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and the coronavirus.

The U.S. bill also proposes dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama.聽

This story was reported by Reuters.