SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — China has lodged a strong protest against the recent meeting between the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, and U.S. Coordinator for Tibetan Affairs, Uzra Zeya. In an official statement, China firmly stated that “no external forces have the right to interfere” in Tibet’s affairs, expressing opposition to any form of contact between foreign officials and what they term “Tibetan independence” forces.
The meeting, held on Sunday, involved U.S. Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, who also serves as the special coordinator for Tibetan issues. The representative of the Dalai Lama in Washington, Namgyal Choedup, expressed that Undersecretary Zeya reiterated the continuous attention and support for Tibetan issues from the U.S. administration.
The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi took to Twitter to condemn the meeting, labeling the Dalai Lama as a political exile involved in anti-China separatist activities, aiming to split Tibet from China. The embassy referred to the “Tibetan government-in-exile” as an illegal organization in violation of China’s laws and Constitution, stressing that it lacks recognition from any country worldwide.
Penpa Tsering, the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, was also present at the meeting. Representing approximately 100,000 Tibetans living across 30 countries, the government-in-exile continues to advocate for the rights and interests of the Tibetan people.
Earlier this year, Zeya expressed concerns regarding China’s campaign to forcibly assimilate the 6 million Tibetans through a process known as “Sinicization.” This systematic repression seeks to eliminate Tibetan religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage, according to Reuters. Congressman Chris Smith, who heads the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, emphasized the ongoing genocide against the Tibetan people, urging global attention despite the focus on China’s activities in other regions.
During her regional trip from July 8 to 14, Zeya will visit Bangladesh and meet with senior government officials in India. The discussions are expected to cover various aspects of the U.S.-India partnership, including finding shared solutions to global challenges, promoting democracy, ensuring regional stability, and enhancing cooperation on humanitarian relief.
The meeting between the Dalai Lama and Uzra Zeya has sparked heightened tensions between China and the United States, adding to the ongoing geopolitical complexities in the region.
