Former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with other members of the Congressional delegation, met Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Wednesday.
The team was led by Michael McCaul, a Republican representative from Texas, who also chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. McCaul said President Joe Biden would soon sign a bill that aims to press China to resolve the Tibet dispute. The Resolve Tibet Act urges Beijing to resume talks with Tibetan leaders, which have been halted since 2010, to resolve their governance disagreement with China peacefully.
"...His Holiness Dalai Lama, with his message of knowledge, tradition, compassion, purity of soul and love, will live a long time and his legacy will live forever. But you, the President of China, you'll be gone and nobody will give you credit for anything. Dalai Lama would not approve of my saying that when I criticize the Chinese government, he says, let's pray for Nancy to rid her of her negative attitudes. I hope he will indulge me today to say that change is on the way. As our colleagues have said hope brings some faith and the faith of the Tibetan people in the goodness of others is what is going to make all the difference..." said Pelosi.
According to Pelosi, the bill is "a message to the Chinese Government that we have clarity in our thinking and our understanding of this issue of the freedom of Tibet".
Meanwhile, China urged US President Joe Biden not to sign the Tibet policy bill, warning of "resolute measures", as it expressed “strong concern” over the visit of delegation to Dharamshala to meet the Dalai Lama.
"Resolve Tibet Bill is a message to China that we have clarity in our thinking on issue of freedom of Tibet," said Pelosi as quoted by News18.
Beijing, which calls the Dalai Lama a dangerous "splittist" or separatist, said it was seriously concerned about the visit and the bill.
It urged the lawmakers not to make contact with what it calls the "Dalai clique" and Biden not to sign the bill.
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. Chinese officials chafe at any interaction he has with officials of other countries.
The Dalai Lama has met U.S. officials, including presidents, during previous visits to the United States, but Biden has not met him since taking office in 2021.
He is due to fly to the U.S. this week for medical treatment, but it is unclear if he will have any engagements then.
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