Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, has said that as president he will meet with the Dalai Lama, continuing a decades-long practice followed by American presidents with the exception of President Donald Trump, and will pressure China to resume talks with Tibetans. for “meaningful autonomy.” ”.
The nominee also promised to impose sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses in Tibet and “step up” support for Tibetans.
Biden accused Trump of maintaining a “deafening silence” on Chinese actions in Tibet and focusing instead on an “empty trade deal” and nurturing his “very good friendship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“As president, I will put values back at the center of American foreign policy,” Biden said in a statement Thursday. “I will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama; appoint a new Special Coordinator for Tibetan affairs. “
The nominee criticized Trump for not meeting with the Tibetan leader yet, saying that “it is embarrassing, though not surprising, that Trump is the first American president in three decades who has not met or spoken with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
The appointment of a special coordinator is mandated by the United States Tibetan Policy Act 2002 – “to promote a substantive dialogue between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his representative.” The position has been vacant since January 2017, when President Trump took office.
Biden went on to say, “I will work with our allies to pressure Beijing to return to direct dialogue with representatives of the Tibetan people to achieve meaningful autonomy, respect for human rights and preservation of Tibet’s environment, as well as its uniqueness. “. cultural, linguistic and religious traditions “.
It will also “step up” support for the Tibetan people, he said, among other things, by expanding Tibetan language services on Radio Free Asia and Voice of America to bring information from the outside world to Tibet.
But the Trump administration has not exactly been soft on China on Tibet, as Biden accused. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced visa restrictions in July for some Chinese officials due to restrictions imposed by Beijing on American diplomats, journalists and tourists to travel to Tibet and for “human rights abuses” there.
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