TIBET THRUST INTO GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL COSCIOUSNESS BY UNITED STATES LEGISLATION DEBUNKING CHINA'S CLAIMS OVER TIBET

The United States bowing to geopolitical imperatives, in a significant Congress Legislation, has pushed China Occupied Tibet into global consciousness which not only defines Tibet's geographical boundaries but also debunks China's 'historical claims' of sovereignty over Tibet.

In a bipartisan move, passed overwhelmingly by both Houses of the US Congress the "Promoting a Resolution of the Tibet-China Conflict Act 2024" milestone and historic.  The Bill now has gone to President Joe Biden for signature,

The Act is exhaustive, and for purposes of this Paper, the most significant observations which have geopolitical consequences, have been lifted from the Act, and produced verbatim:

• "Tibet including those areas incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunan, Gansu and Qinghai, is an Occupied Territory, contrary to principles of international law".
• Tibet's true representatives are the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-exile as recognized by the Tibetan people".
• Tibet has remained throughout history, a distinctive and sovereign national, cultural and religious identity, separate from that of China except during short periods of illegal occupation, has maintained a separate and sovereign political and national identity."
• "The United States Government has never taken the position that Tibet is part of China since ancient times or that the means by what the Government Peoples Republic of China came to exert effective control over Tibet was consistent with international law or included the force of meaningful consent of the Tibetan people."

Further emphasis on the above is stated in Section 4 "Sense of the Congress' which states: 

• Claims made by the officials of Peoples Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party that Tibet has been a part of China since ancient times are false."
• The Government of Peoples Republic of China has failed to meet the expectations of the United States to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama or representatives towards a peaceful settlement of the unresolved conflict between Tibet and the Peoples Republic of China."
• "United States public diplomacy should counter disinformation about Tibet from the Government of Peoples Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, including disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people and the Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama."

The 'Resolution of Tibet-China Conflict Act 2024" once signed by President Biden, is a quantum jump by the United States over the 'US Tibet Policy Act 2002' , both in terms of 'statutory definitions' of Tibet and United States policy assertions on Tibet, which would form the basis of  'Reset of US Tibet Policy' for the future. 

The significant policy assertions made by United States on Tibet, as passed by the US Congress are as follows:

• Tibet's territorial and international status as Tibet is not confined to what China Terms as Tibet Autonomous Region but extends to include Tibetan Areas in China's neighboring areas stated above. 
• Tibet throughout its history (excepting spells of Chinese Occupation) has remained a distinctive political 'sovereign' entity.
• United States 'has never taken position that Tibet is part of China' as claimed by China and Chinese Communist Party. US dismisses China's historical assertions in this regard. (US documents from 1919 to date have been cited)
• United States long-standing policy that Tibet-China Conflict has to be resolved by China in negotiations with The Dalai Lama or his representatives, 'without any pre-conditions.' 

It needs to be recalled that China has not entered into any negotiations with the Dalai Lama, or his representatives, since 2010 asserting that Dalai Lama is not the representative of the Tibetan people.

United States now forcefully asserts that The Dalai Lama d the Tibet Government-in-exile are the true representatives of the Tibetan peoples. This is a politically heavily loaded challenge for China. 

China has been put on notice on Tibet's future by the United States by unambiguous policy declarations,

 not made so explicitly before.

Expectedly, US Allies and strategic partners would take the lead provided by United States in "Reset" of their policy stands on Tibet, now that the United States has thrust Tibet into global conscience. 

Finally, it needs to be stressed that the latest US Bill's policy assertions reinforce the fact that Tibet is presently, "China Occupied Tibet", as I have maintained in my writings for two decades and that China's historical claims are 'fabricated claims' which are illegal.