US delegation meets with the Dalai Lama

Ilam: The US Congressional delegation met the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at his residence in India on Wednesday. Hundreds of Lama’s supporters gathered with flags of Tibet and America. The bipartisan delegation included Republicans Michael McCall and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

They are set to discuss a US bill that would pressure China to resolve the Tibet dispute. “The United States of America stands with the people of Tibet,” McCall said

China angry at the delegation meeting

China, which claims Tibet as its territory and views the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist, has been angered by the visit of the US delegation.

Chinese officials have urged the US delegation not to engage with the Dalai faction and President Joe Biden to not sign the bill.

“It is well known that the 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-Chinese separatist activities under the guise of religion,” said Lin Zhan, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The 88-year-old Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after an unsuccessful rebellion against Chinese rule. He has taken refuge in Dharamshala, a city in Himachal Pradesh, India, on the edge of the Himalayas.

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama was reincarnated after his death. The question of his succession is controversial. China’s atheistic communist government claims that they have the right to appoint the Dalai Lama.

New Delhi considers Tibet as part of China. However, India has given asylum to many Tibetans. China has been opposing the meeting of the Dalai Lama by any official of any country.

Earlier, the Dalai Lama has met with several US officials, including former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. He did not meet Donald Trump and has yet to meet President Joe Biden. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to leave for the US this week for treatment of his knee.

It is not clear whether he will have any formal meeting during the visit. The US-China relationship has been straining lately. The meeting between the Lama and the American delegation is likely to cause tension between the two sides again. with the assistance of the agency