A Boost for Tibet’s Status in the US

By Jenny James / September 27, 2018;

The United States House of Representatives passed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act on September 25–this is a major development on the status of Tibet and for US -China relations.

The bipartisan bill promotes access to Tibet for United States officials, journalists, non-government organisations (NGOs) and citizens. Under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, Chinese officials who deny Americans entry to Tibet will be denied entry to the US.

Congressman Jim McGovern

“Today is a great day for human rights,” said Representative Jim McGovern who introduced the legislation alongside Representative Randy Hultgren. “The United States must continue to stand squarely for human rights and speak openly against China’s human rights violations in Tibet.”

The bill is expected to help curtail China’s isolation of Tibet, an historically independent nation that China has occupied for nearly 70 years. Chinese authorities have taken measures to restrict access to Tibet for foreign visitors, including preventing journalists from reporting on its human rights abuses which include religious persecution, torture, false imprisonment and extrajudicial killings.

China nearly always forbids American journalists, diplomats and citizens from accessing Tibet, even though Chinese citizens are free to travel throughout the US. On the rare occasions when US citizens are allowed into Tibet, they can only travel under the constant monitoring of Chinese authorities.

Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said, “The United States must make Tibet a priority in our relations with Beijing, and I am very pleased we are moving in that direction with this important bill.”

Matteo Mecacci, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, said the act is “a strong statement by the United States that puts pressure on the Chinese government to open up Tibet to the outside world and shows that their propaganda is hollow […]Now that the House has passed the bill, we must turn our attention to the Senate passing the Reciprocal Access to Tibet.”

Tibetan-Americans and Tibet supporters throughout the US have lobbied their members of Congress to pass the bill. Many have showed their support on Twitter and Facebook using #AccessToTibet.