By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 15: China has expressed strong opposition to U.S. President Joe Biden signing the Resolve Tibet Act into law, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a press conference on Saturday, stating that it “undermines China’s interests, and sends a severely wrong signal to the ‘Tibet independence’ forces.
Lin’s statement came after President Biden signed the Resolve Tibet Act, also known as the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act,” into law on July 12. This marks a significant milestone in efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict between Tibet and China. “Today, I have signed into law S. 138, the ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’ (the ‘Act’). I share Congress’s bipartisan commitment to advancing the human rights of Tibetans and supporting efforts to preserve their distinct linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage. My Administration will continue to call on the People’s Republic of China to resume direct dialogue, without preconditions, with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, to seek a settlement that resolves differences and leads to a negotiated agreement on Tibet,” President Biden stated.
“The so-called “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act” violates the US government’s long-held position and commitments and the basic norms governing international relations, grossly interferes in China’s domestic affairs, undermines China’s interests, and sends a severely wrong signal to the “Tibet independence” forces. China firmly opposes it and has protested to the US side,” Spokesperson Lin remarked.
Referring to Tibet as “Xizang,” the romanised Chinese name, Lin further stated, “Xizang (Tibet) has been part of China since ancient times. Xizang affairs are China’s internal affairs which brook no interference by any external forces. Xizang today enjoys social stability and harmony, with sound economic performance and people’s well-being well protected. Xizang is making fresh progress in effectively running its society, maintaining social stability, and achieving high-quality development. No one and no force should ever attempt to destabilise Xizang to contain and suppress China. Such attempts will never succeed.”
Lin also called on the U.S. to take concrete actions to honour its commitments of recognising Tibet as part of China and refraining from supporting “Tibet independence.” He urged the U.S. not to implement the Act and warned that if the U.S. continues down the wrong path, China will take resolute measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security, and developmental interests.
Following the passage of the Resolve Tibet Act in the U.S. Congress and Senate, China intensified its opposition to Washington D.C. On June 21, China issued a stern warning to the U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him not to sign the Resolve Tibet Act into law and cautioning of “resolute measures” in response. This warning came amidst heightened tensions after a high-level U.S. congressional delegation visited Dharamshala, the capital of the Tibetan exile community. During the visit, the delegation met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and officials from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
