Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 12: The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering has held a series of high-level engagements with lawmakers, government officials, international organisations and media representatives during his ongoing official visit to the United States, raising concerns over the situation inside Tibet, China’s policies and the future of the Tibetan cause.
According to a report published on the CTA’s official website, tibet.net, the CTA President participated in the China Forum 2026, organised by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, on November 9 and 10. The discussions focused on Tibet’s future, the issue of the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and China’s repressive policies in Tibet.
On the sidelines of the forum, he held a special conversation with Paula J. Dobriansky, former US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. He also met with longtime Tibet supporter and former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as Senator Chris Van Hollen and his delegation. Discussions centred on the Tibetan cause and the critical situation inside Tibet.
On November 10, he met with Damon Wilson, President of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and members of his delegation, along with US Congresswoman Lois Frankel. The meetings addressed the deteriorating situation inside Tibet. Later that afternoon, following an invitation from the US Department of State, President Tsering met with Riley Barnes, the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, and subsequently held discussions with officials from various departments of the State Department.
The following day, November 11, he held further meetings with senior US lawmakers, including John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; Congressman Joe Wilson; Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and longtime Tibet supporter Congressman Jim McGovern.
During these meetings, he raised concerns over China’s repressive policies in occupied Tibet and expressed gratitude to members of the US Congress from both political parties for their continued support for the Tibetan cause.
As part of his media engagements, he also gave an interview to the Chinese-language service of Voice of America (VOA). He met with Christopher Wallace, Deputy Director of the broadcaster, and members of its Chinese-language service.
The CTA President was accompanied during the US visit by CTA Finance Minister Tsering Dhondup; Representative of the Office of Tibet in Washington, DC, Namgyal Choedup; Lobsang Tenzin, Director of the Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD) under the CTA’s Department of Finance; staff member Thupten Rigzin; and Chinese Liaison Officer Tsultrim Gyatso.
The engagements form part of the CTA leadership’s ongoing international outreach to garner support for the Tibetan cause and draw attention to developments inside Tibet.
