President Obama’s June 2016 Meeting with Tibet’s Dalai Lama
Updated June 24, 2016
President Obama’s June 2016 Meeting with Tibet’s Dalai Lama
Introduction
After the Dalai Lama’s flight from Tibet, Beijing
President Barack Obama met with Tibet’s exiled spiritual
established the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), one of
leader, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, at the White
five province-level ethnic minority regions in China today.
House on June 15, 2016. This was the fourth and likely
Beijing also established Tibetan autonomous prefectures
final White House meeting between the two men during the
and counties within China’s provinces of Qinghai, Sichuan,
Obama presidency. The day before, the Dalai Lama visited
Gansu, and Yunnan, with their aggregate land area
Capitol Hill for meetings with Members and a lunch hosted
approximately equal to that of the TAR. Just under half of
by the House Speaker and House Minority Leader. The
the six million ethnic Tibetans in China live in the TAR,
President and Congress are among a small number of
with most of the remainder living in Tibetan jurisdictions
national leaders and legislatures to meet publicly with the
outside the TAR.
Dalai Lama; most of the rest of the world’s national leaders
and legislatures avoid such meetings, many under pressure
In Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama established an exile
from the government of the People’s Republic of China
government, now known as the Central Tibetan
(PRC). The PRC opposes all meetings between foreign
Administration (CTA). The CTA has an elected leader, the
officials and the Dalai Lama, whom it considers to be “not a
Sikyong, sometimes also known as Prime Minister of the
pure religious figure, but a political exile who has long been
Tibetan government-in-exile. The current Sikyong is Dr.
engaged in anti-China separatist plots under the cloak of
Lobsang Sangay, a Harvard-educated legal scholar. He was
religion.” After the President’s meeting with the Dalai
re-elected to a second five-year term in April 2016 with
Lama, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said U.S.
57% of nearly 59,000 votes cast by members of the global
“meddling with China’s domestic affairs will inevitably
Tibetan diaspora. An estimated 130,000 Tibetans now live
inflict harm on bilateral mutual trust and cooperation.”
in India and Nepal in 58 Tibetan refugee settlements
administered by the CTA. The U.S. State Department’s
The Dalai Lama has called for “genuine autonomy” for
position on the CTA is outlined in the department’s annual
Tibetan districts within the framework of the PRC, an
report to Congress on Tibet negotiations: “The U.S.
approach he refers to as the “Middle Way.” According to an
government does not recognize Tibet as an independent
account of the Dalai Lama’s June 14, 2016, visit to Capitol
state and therefore does not conduct official diplomatic
Hill posted on his website, the Dalai Lama told Members
relations with the Central Tibetan Administration, an
that Tibet is an “occupied land” and “not part of China,” but
organization based in Dharamsala, India.” The government
he also said, “We are not seeking independence because we
of India treats the CTA as a non-governmental
don’t want to enter into confrontation with our Chinese
organization.
brothers and sisters.”
U.S. Policy on Tibet
The President’s previous White House meetings with the
The White House said that in his June 2016 meeting with
Dalai Lama took place in February 2010, July 2011, and
the Dalai Lama, the President “emphasized his strong
February 2014. President Obama and the Dalai Lama also
support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious,
exchanged greetings at the National Prayer Breakfast in
cultural and linguistic traditions and the equal protection of
Washington, D.C. in February 2015. Consistent with the
human rights of Tibetans in China.” The President
practice of previous administrations, none of President
encouraged “meaningful and direct dialogue” between
Obama’s White House meetings with the Dalai Lama has
Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama and his
been in the Oval Office, which the White House describes
representatives. The President also “reiterated the
as “the official workplace of the President.” All President
longstanding U.S. position that Tibet is a part of the
Obama’s meetings with the Dalai Lama have taken place in
People’s Republic of China, and the United States does not
the White House Map Room, which the White House
support Tibetan independence.”
Curator describes as “a formal, but private, drawing room.”
U.S. policy is guided by the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002
Background on Tibet and the Tibetan
(P.L. 113-228) (TPA). It does not take a position on Tibet’s
Exile Movement
political status, but it sets broad goals for U.S. policy
The Chinese Communist Party established the PRC in
towards Tibet, including “to support the aspirations of the
1949. In 1950, the Party’s People’s Liberation Army
Tibetan people to safeguard their distinct identity” and “to
entered eastern Tibet to bring the region under Beijing’s
promote substantive dialogue” between the PRC and the
control. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in March 1959, after a
Dalai Lama or his representatives. The TPA also establishes
failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. He settled with
in statute the State Department position of Special
fellow Tibetan exiles in the Indian hill town of Dharamsala,
Coordinator for Tibetan Issues; establishes reporting
where he has been based since.
requirements related to Tibet; requires programming and
sets project principles; mandates the availability of Tibetan
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President Obama’s June 2016 Meeting with Tibet’s Dalai Lama
language training to foreign service officers in the U.S.
Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping stated that
government; requires U.S. government officials to raise
Tibet policy should focus on “ensuring national unity and
issues of religious freedom and political prisoners in
consolidating ethnic unity.” Referring to the Dalai Lama, he
exchanges with officials of China; and urges the State
commanded officials to “wage struggle against the Dalai
Department to seek establishment of a U.S. Consulate in
clique in an unwavering manner.” He also called for
Lhasa, the capital of the TAR.
integrating “socialist core values” into school curricula,
ensuring patriotism among Tibetan Buddhists through
Areas of concern for U.S. policymakers related to Tibet
“effective” management of monasteries, and encouraging
have included human rights conditions in Tibetan areas in
interpretations of the canons and rules of Tibetan Buddhism
China and the impact of China’s policies on Tibet’s culture,
“that are compatible with a socialist society.” China’s
on traditional Tibetan Buddhist religious practices, and on
Premier, Li Keqiang, spoke of the need to tackle poverty.
Tibet’s fragile environment. U.S. policymakers have also
He also outlined plans to build “major world tourism
expressed concern about Beijing’s efforts to control the
destinations,” accelerate the building of transportation
reincarnation process for a 15th Dalai Lama; self-
infrastructure, and expand power grids, all while ensuring
immolations among Tibetans protesting China’s policies;
“ecological security.” Between 2002 and 2010, Chinese
stalled negotiations between Beijing and envoys of the
official and envoys of the Dalai Lama engaged in nine
Dalai Lama; and official restrictions on access to Tibet for
rounds of talks, but failed to come to any agreement.
U.S. diplomats, journalists, and ordinary citizens.
Human Rights Conditions in Tibet
Congress and Tibet
In its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015,
Since the 14th Dalai Lama’s first visit to the United States in
released in April 2016, the State Department asserts that,
1979, Congress has shown consistent support for him and
“Under the professed objectives of controlling border areas,
concern about conditions for Tibetans in China. Among
maintaining social stability, and combating separatism, the
other relevant actions, Congress passed the Tibetan Policy
government [of China] engaged in the severe repression of
Act of 2002 and in 2006 approved awarding the Dalai Lama
Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic
the Congressional Gold Medal. In the 114th Congress, the
heritage.... ” The State Department also reports, “a
Senate passed S.Res. 200, recognizing the Dalai Lama’s
perception among many Tibetans that authorities
contributions “to the promotion of nonviolence, human
systemically targeted them for political repression,
rights, interfaith dialogue, environmental awareness, and
economic marginalization, and cultural assimilation, as well
democracy.” The House passed H.Res. 337, calling, among
as educational and employment discrimination.” The
other things, for the U.S. government to strongly encourage
Congressional-Executive Commission on China has
representatives of China and the Dalai Lama to hold
identified 645 Tibetan political prisoners believed to be
substantive dialogue, without preconditions. Pending
currently detained or imprisoned in the PRC. Since 2009,
legislation includes H.Res. 584, urging the President to seek
145 Tibetans in China are known to have self-immolated,
an independent investigation into the death in custody of
many apparently to protest PRC policies, and 117 are
Tibetan Buddhist leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche; H.R.
known to have died.
1112, making certain PRC officials ineligible for entry into
the United States while China continues to restrict access
Dispute over the Future of the
for foreign travelers to Tibet; and H.R. 2679, making 3,000
Institution of the Dalai Lama
immigrant visas available in FY2016-FY2018 for Tibet-
The present Dalai Lama is the 14th in a lineage that began in
born individuals who have been continuously residing in
the 14th century, with each new Dalai Lama identified in
India or Nepal.
childhood as the reincarnation of his predecessor.
Concerned about Beijing’s efforts to control the selection of
Congress has long authorized U.S. assistance for programs
his successor, the Dalai Lama asserted in 2011 that, “the
for Tibetan communities in China and for Tibetan refugees
person who reincarnates has sole legitimate authority over
in India and Nepal. Economic Support Fund (ESF)
where and how he or she takes rebirth and how that
assistance supports the preservation of Tibetan cultural
reincarnation is to be recognized.” He also said that when
traditions and promotes sustainable development,
he is “about 90” he will “re-evaluate whether the institution
education, and environmental conservation in Tibetan
of the Dalai Lama should continue or not.” Beijing
communities in China. (In FY2015, actual ESF assistance
contends that it should control the reincarnation process and
in this category totaled $12.2 million. The State Department
has rejected the Dalai Lama’s suggestion that he might have
has requested $6.8 million for FY2017.) Congressional
no successor. The U.S. government has criticized Beijing’s
appropriations also support humanitarian protection and
position on the issue. In June 2015, Under Secretary of
assistance programs for Tibetan communities in India and
State Sarah Sewall, who serves as the U.S. government’s
Nepal; a fellows program for Tibetans in China; Voice of
Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, stated that, “The
America and Radio Free Asia Tibetan-language
basic and universally recognized right of religious freedom
broadcasting; a scholarship program for Tibetans living
demands that any decision on the next Dalai Lama must be
outside Tibet; and National Endowment for Democracy
reserved to the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist
human rights and democracy programs related to Tibet.
leaders, and the Tibetan people.”
China’s Policy on Tibetan Areas
Susan V. Lawrence, Specialist in Asian Affairs
China’s Communist Party convened its sixth-ever Tibet
Work Forum in 2015, to recalibrate its policy toward Tibet.
IF10421
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President Obama’s June 2016 Meeting with Tibet’s Dalai Lama
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