China fumes at US Congressional delegation meeting with Dalai Lama
Image credit Special arrangement
US Congressional delegation meeting with Dalai Lama angers China
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, June 18: The US Congressional bipartisan delegation consisting of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reached McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh to warm receptions by the Tibetans in exile. Pelosi will meet Dalai Lama tomorrow.
The bipartisan delegation of the US Congress is led by Representative Michael McCaul. He is the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The delegation on Tuesday visited the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala. The delegation consists of Pelosi, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Ami Bera, as well as Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Nicole Malliotakis.
Also Read: India & US talk defence ties amid Nikhil Gupta extradition
McCaul told reporters that the delegation members are excited to “meet his holiness Dalai Lama”. “President Biden will sign Tibet Resolve act,” McCaul told reporters in McLeodganj.
Tenzin Lekshay, the spokesperson of the government of the Tibetan in exile, said: “The US Congressional delegation will meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 19th June, followed by a felicitation ceremony by the Central Tibetan Administration on behalf of Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile at the main temple, Dharamshala.”
The visit of the bipartisan Congressional delegation to the Tibetan government in exile riled China. “The US needs to see the true nature of the Dalai group – who are anti-China and harbour a separatist agenda – and honour the commitments the US has made to China on Xizang,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said on Tuesday.
Also Read: Modi govt can collapse any day, says Rahul Gandhi
China warned the US to not establish “any contact with the group and stop sending the wrong message to the world”.
“The US must honour its commitments made to China on Xizang and not sign into law the so-called ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’,” added the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the regular briefing on Tuesday.
Pelosi had previously led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Taipei last year. Afterwards, the US and China bilateral relations had gone into a downward spiral.
“Xizang has been part of China since ancient times. Xizang affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and no external interference will ever be allowed,” added the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also Read: Rajnath Singh settles in de-facto deputy PM role
Tibetans in exile allege that China is systematically carrying out the demographic changes in Tibet. China is also alleged to be building military assets in Tibetan region.
“Xizang today is prosperous & stable. No one will succeed in holding back China by trying to destabilize Xizang,” added the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Join WhatsApp channel of The Raisina Hills
About The Author
