US President Biden signs bill promoting distinct Tibet identity

Aabshar Ghassi | U. Pittsburgh School of Law, US

JULY 14, 2024 

US President Biden on Friday signed into law the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act. The bill declares Congress’s position that Tibetans have a “religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity” distinct from the Chinese people which the Chinese government undermines by its claims and penalizes by its rights violations of Tibetans.

Congress found the Chinese government to be violating its obligations under international law, most notably violating the right of self-determination for Tibetans. It described the Chinese government’s rights violations of the Tibetan people to be systematic and pointed to Tibetan opposition and resistance.

Congress said urged the Chinese government to stop its alleged disinformation campaign against Tibet and the Tibetans, its violations of international law, and its unwillingness to engage in meaningful negotiations with Tibetan leaders. Congress also declared its aim to restart diplomacy between Chinese and Tibetan leaders that started in 2002 and ended in January 2010 without a successful resolution.

The bill implements Congress’s motives in resolving the Tibet-China dispute by statutorily defining Tibet and amending its Tibetan Policy Act of 2002. The bill defined Tibet as the Tibet Autonomous Region and the areas in China the Chinese government in 2018 recognized as “Tibetan Autonomous.” It amended the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 by adding that the President must annually send reports to congressional committees on “[US] efforts to counter disinformation about Tibet from the [Chinese government] and the Chinese Communist Party” and the Special Coordinator must “work with relevant bureaus … to ensure that [US government] statements and documents” fight the Chinese government’s disinformation campaign against Tibet and Tibetans.

Responding to the bill’s passage into US law, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson issued the following remarks:

The [bill] violates the US government’s long-held position and commitments and the basic norms governing international relations, grossly interferes in China’s domestic affairs, undermines China’s interests, and sends a severely wrong signal to the “Tibet independence” forces … If the US continues down the wrong path, China will take resolute measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.