US Senator introduces bill condemning CCP’s forced labour in Tibet

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 26: A draft resolution was introduced in the US Senate titled “Condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s use of forced labor and other coercive measures to destroy religious freedom in Tibet” by Republican Senator Josh Hawley and cosponsored by 10 other Senators.

The bill emphasized the CCP’s interference on the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama’s successor, use of forced labour in Tibet, and called upon the US companies to divest from firms in China that are involved in such imposed labour. 

It also called on the US government to support the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) of 2002 and urged the international community to stand against “Party’s hegemonic agenda”. Senator Hawley remarked on the introduction of the bill, “Beijing is using modern slavery to punish Tibetans for practicing their religious faith. This is just the latest example of the lengths to which the CCP is willing to go to impose its will on others. We must hold Beijing accountable and that starts with ending American corporations’ complicity in Chinese forced labor.” 

SFT Director Dorjee Tseten applauded the move, “Tibetan and our supporters applaud Senator Hawley for introducing a Senate Resolution condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s use of forced labor in Tibet and supporting Tibetan freedom . . . It is time for a response from the international community that matches the courage and conviction of Tibetans inside Tibet. We call on other countries to pass similar legislation in support of Tibet and to hold China and companies accountable who are benefiting from the occupation of Tibet.” 

The Tibet resolution was cosponsored by Senators Thom Tillis, Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburn, Tim Scott, Mike Braun, Todd Young, Kelly Loeffler, Bill Cassidy, Martha McSally and James Lankford. More senators are expected to join the chair of co-sponsors in the coming weeks. 

Lawmaker Hawley had met with CTA President Lobsang Sangay in Washington DC in Nov. 2019. He also passed legislation condemning Beijing’s takeover of Hong Kong and introduced the Taiwan Defense Act recently.