Bipartisan legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) seeks to peacefully resolve China’s occupation of Tibet and would call on the Chinese government to resume negotiations with envoys of the Dalai Lama.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) aggression towards Tibet is self-serving, with negotiations on the CCP’s terms,” Sen. Young said. “We must refresh U.S. policy towards Tibet and push for negotiations that advance freedoms for the Tibetan people and peaceful resolution to the CCP’s conflict with the Dalai Lama.”
Sen. Young on Dec. 20 signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act, S. 5306, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to reaffirm Tibetans’ right to self-determination as a people, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, S. 5306 would clarify that the current Chinese government’s refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations over the unresolved conflict fails to meet U.S. government expectations, the summary says.
“This bill demonstrates America’s resolve that the CCP’s status quo — both in Tibet and elsewhere — is not acceptable,” said Sen. Young.
Specifically, S. 5306 would make it official U.S. policy that the conflict between Tibet and China is unresolved and that Tibet’s legal status remains to be determined under international law, and it would fault China for failing to meet expectations of participating in dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, according to the text of the bill.
Additionally, the measure would reject as “historically false” China’s claim that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times; and empower the Office of the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to counter Communist party disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the text says.
“America’s values supporting freedom and self-determination for all people must be at the center of all of our actions and relationships around the world — especially as the Chinese government pushes an alternative vision,” said Sen. Merkley. “This legislation… sends a clear message to the People’s Republic of China: we expect meaningful negotiations over Tibet’s status and do not view current Chinese government actions as meeting those expectations.”
The International Campaign for Tibet supports S. 5306, which is the companion bill to the same-named H.R. 8365, introduced on July 13 by U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Michael McCaul (R-TX).