U.S. Officials Reaffirm Commitment to Tibetan Rights in Meeting with Dalai Lama

Senior officials from the U.S. State Department and the White House met with the Dalai Lama in New York on Wednesday, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to advancing the human rights of Tibetans. The meeting, which took place amidst the Dalai Lama’s medical visit to the U.S., is likely to provoke a strong reaction from China, which views the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, met with U.S.Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya and White House Director for Human Rights Kelly Razzouk. Zeya conveyed President Biden’s best wishes for the Dalai Lama’s health and reaffirmed U.S. support for Tibetan human rights and efforts to preserve Tibet’s unique cultural heritage.

The U.S. officials discussed ongoing efforts to address human rights abuses in Tibet and expressed support for renewed dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama. The meeting marks the Dalai Lama’s first visit to the U.S. since 2017 and comes at a sensitive time as President Biden seeks to stabilize U.S.-China relations ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

China has expressed “grave concern” over the meeting, with a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Washington urging the U.S. to refrain from engaging with the Dalai Lama. This follows a recent escalation in tensions between the two nations, including China’s strong opposition to a U.S. law signed by President Biden that presses for greater autonomy for Tibet.

While the Dalai Lama has met with previous U.S. presidents, including during earlier visits, President Biden has yet to meet with him since taking office in 2021. The meeting highlights the ongoing importance of Tibetan rights in U.S. foreign policy, despite the broader geopolitical challenges between Washington and Beijing.