China has issued a strong warning to a US delegation currently visiting India for a meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Chinese Embassy in India, in a statement on Tuesday, urged the US to cease sending what it deemed as “wrong signals” by engaging with the Dalai Lama. Earlier that day, a bipartisan US Congressional delegation, headed by Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Upon their arrival, the delegation met with members of Tibet’s Parliament-in-Exile and are scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama the following day.
Dharamshala has served as the home of the Dalai Lama for six decades. He fled Tibet in 1959, along with his followers, after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Since then, the Dalai Lama has established the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, formally known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), in Dharamshala. The current delegation includes Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who previously visited Taiwan in 2022, attracting China’s ire. Her meeting with the Dalai Lama has once again sparked China’s anger.
China has repeatedly denounced the Dalai Lama as a separatist, accusing him of using religion as a façade for his anti-China activities. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Chinese Embassy in India condemned the US engagement with the Dalai Lama and his movement, stating that it should be recognized as a separatist force. They urged the US to honor its past commitments regarding Tibet and to refrain from sending what they perceive as “wrong signals.” The Embassy also referred to Tibet as “Xizang,” the Mandarin name imposed by the Chinese regime, a deliberate effort to emphasize their claim over the region.
China’s statement went on to reiterate its claim over Tibet, asserting that it has been an integral part of China since ancient times. They demanded that the US adhere to its commitment of acknowledging Tibet as part of China and cease any support for Tibetan independence. China further warned of resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Tibet, along with Taiwan, is considered a significant “red line” for the Chinese regime. China frequently issues strong reactions whenever foreign leaders engage with Tibet or its exiled leadership. In exile, the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has consistently advocated for dialogue to address the Tibetan crisis. The Dharamshala-based government-in-exile has also denounced Chinese repression and the systematic erasure of Tibetan heritage and culture over the decades.
Representative McCaul, the head of the US delegation, stated that the US policy towards Tibet has undergone a significant shift, moving towards self-determination for the Tibetan people. In an address to the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, McCaul emphasized the UN’s stance on the right of self-determination for all people and nations. McCaul further announced that US President Joe Biden will sign the Resolve Tibet Act into law. This bill, passed by both the House and the Senate, underscores the US commitment to Tibet.
The delegation also includes other prominent members, such as House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (Democrat), House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (Democrat), House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Ranking Member Ami Bera (Democrat), and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican), and Nicole Malliotakis (Republican).
