Kicking off a crucial visit to Dharamshala on Tuesday, Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, who is leading a bipartisan US delegation, reaffirmed President Joe Biden's intention to sign the 'Resolve Tibet Act', which was passed by Congress last week.
The US delegation, which also includes former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arrived at the Kangra airport today to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala.
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The US delegation was welcomed by officials of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The Resolve Tibet Act urges Beijing to resume talks with Tibetan leaders to find a peaceful resolution to their governance dispute with China.
McCaul expressed excitement about the upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama and emphasized the importance of Congress passing the bill.
McCaul said, “We are very excited to meet with His Holiness tomorrow to talk about a number of issues, including the bill that was recently passed by Congress that basically says the United States stands with the people of Tibet.” When asked if President Biden would sign the bill, McCaul confirmed, “Yes, he will.”
Pelosi, a member of the US delegation, said, “I am very happy to be here.” She stressed the purpose of the delegation, saying that the purpose of the delegation is to support the Resolve Tibet Act and to meet the Dalai Lama.
US Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks echoed the sentiment of the delegation, emphasizing the need to strengthen resolve and their purpose of meeting the Dalai Lama. “I am very excited to meet His Holiness, to show that the United States stands with him,” Meeks said.
Meanwhile, Congressman Gregory Meeks also expressed his desire to meet His Holiness and stressed America's solidarity with him.
Earlier this week, the US Congress passed a bill urging Beijing to re-establish contacts with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve the dispute over the status and governance of Tibet, Radio Free Asia reported.
According to Radio Free Asia's report, the US House of Representatives has passed the 'Tibet-China Dispute Resolution Act', also known as the 'Tibet Resolution Act'. It will now be sent to President Joe Biden for signature to become law.
The bill rejects Beijing's stance that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times and urges China to “stop propagating misinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people and Tibetan institutions, including the Dalai Lama.”
It also urged China to begin talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders about the governance of Tibet. There have been no formal talks between the two sides since 2010.
The seven-member US delegation includes Representative Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Representative Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Nicole Malliotakis, Representative Jim McGovern, and Representative Ami Bera.
The delegation's visit to meet the Dalai Lama underscores US support for Tibet amid diplomatic tensions with China, aimed at strengthening ties and advocating for Tibetan rights on the international stage.
Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama is also scheduled to travel to the United States for medical treatment, his office said in a statement on June 3. According to the statement, no events will be scheduled after June 20 until further notice.
