[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3701-H3704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROMOTING A RESOLUTION TO THE TIBET-CHINA DISPUTE ACT

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 138) to amend the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to modify certain 
provisions of that Act.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 138

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting a Resolution to 
     the Tibet-China Dispute Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) It has been the long-standing policy of the United 
     States to encourage meaningful and direct dialogue between 
     representatives of the People's Republic of China and the 
     Dalai Lama, his or her representatives, or democratically 
     elected leaders of the Tibetan community, without 
     preconditions, to seek a settlement that resolves 
     differences.
       (2) Nine rounds of dialogue held between 2002 and 2010 
     between the People's Republic of China authorities and the 
     14th Dalai Lama's representatives failed to produce a 
     settlement that resolved differences, and the two sides have 
     held no formal dialogue since January 2010.
       (3) An obstacle to further dialogue is that the Government 
     of the People's Republic of China continues to impose 
     conditions on substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama, 
     including a demand that he say that Tibet has been part of 
     China since ancient times, which the Dalai Lama has refused 
     to do because it is inaccurate.
       (4) Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and 
     Political Rights and Article 1 of the International Covenant 
     on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide, ``All 
     peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of 
     that right they freely determine their political status and 
     freely pursue their economic, social and cultural 
     development.''.
       (5) The United States Government has never taken the 
     position that Tibet was a part of China since ancient times.
       (6) China signed the International Covenant on Civil and 
     Political Rights on October 5, 1998, and ratified the 
     International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural 
     Rights on March 27, 2001.
       (7) Under international law, including United Nations 
     General Assembly Resolution 2625, the right to self-
     determination is the right of a people to determine its own 
     destiny and the exercise of this right can result in a 
     variety of outcomes ranging from independence, federation, 
     protection, some form of autonomy, or full integration within 
     a State.
       (8) United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1723, 
     adopted on December 20, 1961, called for the ``cessation of 
     practices which deprive the Tibetan people of their 
     fundamental human rights and freedoms, including their right 
     to self-determination''.
       (9) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a May 26, 2022, 
     speech entitled ``The Administration's Approach to the 
     People's Republic of China'', said that the rules-based 
     international order's ``founding documents include the UN 
     Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which 
     enshrined

[[Page H3702]]

     concepts like self-determination, sovereignty, the peaceful 
     settlement of disputes. These are not Western constructs. 
     They are reflections of the world's shared aspirations.''.
       (10) The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note), 
     as amended by the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 
     (subtitle E of title III of division FF of Public Law 116-
     260), in directing the United States Government ``to promote 
     the human rights and distinct religious, cultural, 
     linguistic, and historical identity of the Tibetan people'' 
     acknowledges that the Tibetan people possess a distinct 
     religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity.
       (11) Department of State reports on human rights and 
     religious freedom have consistently documented systematic 
     repression by the authorities of the People's Republic of 
     China against Tibetans as well as acts of defiance and 
     resistance by Tibetan people against the People's Republic of 
     China policies.
       (12) The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) 
     specifies that the central objective of the United States 
     Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues is to promote 
     substantive dialogue between the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China and the Dalai Lama, his or her 
     representatives, or democratically elected leaders of the 
     Tibetan community.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States--
       (1) that the Tibetan people are a people with a distinct 
     religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity;
       (2) that the dispute between Tibet and the People's 
     Republic of China must be resolved in accordance with 
     international law, including the United Nations Charter, by 
     peaceful means, through dialogue without preconditions;
       (3) that the People's Republic of China should cease its 
     propagation of disinformation about the history of Tibet, the 
     Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of 
     the Dalai Lama;
       (4) to encourage the People's Republic of China to ratify 
     the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and 
     uphold all its commitments under the International Covenant 
     on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and
       (5) in accordance with the Tibetan Policy and Support Act 
     of 2020--
       (A) to promote substantive dialogue without pre-conditions, 
     between the Government of the People's Republic of China and 
     the Dalai Lama, his or her representatives, or democratically 
     elected leaders of the Tibetan community, or explore 
     activities to improve prospects for dialogue, that leads to a 
     negotiated agreement on Tibet;
       (B) to coordinate with other governments in multilateral 
     efforts towards the goal of a negotiated agreement on Tibet; 
     and
       (C) to encourage the Government of the People's Republic of 
     China to address the aspirations of the Tibetan people with 
     regard to their distinct historical, cultural, religious, and 
     linguistic identity.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) claims made by officials of the People's Republic of 
     China and the Chinese Communist Party that Tibet has been a 
     part of China since ancient times are historically 
     inaccurate;
       (2) the current policies of the People's Republic of China 
     are systematically suppressing the ability of the Tibetan 
     people to preserve their religion, culture, language, 
     history, way of life, and environment;
       (3) the Government of the People's Republic of China is 
     failing to meet the expectations of the United States to 
     engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his 
     representatives or to reach a negotiated resolution that 
     includes the aspirations of the Tibetan people; and
       (4) United States public diplomacy efforts should counter 
     disinformation about Tibet from the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, 
     including disinformation about the history of Tibet, the 
     Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of 
     the Dalai Lama.

     SEC. 5. MODIFICATIONS TO THE TIBETAN POLICY ACT OF 2002.

       (a) Tibet Negotiations.--Section 613(b) of the Tibetan 
     Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) efforts to counter disinformation about Tibet from 
     the Government of the People's Republic of China and the 
     Chinese Communist Party, including disinformation about the 
     history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan 
     institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama.''.
       (b) United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.--
     Section 621(d) of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 
     6901 note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), and (8) as 
     paragraphs (7), (8), and (9), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(6) work with relevant bureaus of the Department of State 
     and the United States Agency for International Development to 
     ensure that United States Government statements and documents 
     counter, as appropriate, disinformation about Tibet from the 
     Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese 
     Communist Party, including disinformation about the history 
     of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, 
     including that of the Dalai Lama;''.
       (c) Definition.--The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 
     6901 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 622. DEFINITION.

       ``For purposes of this Act, the term `Tibet' refers to the 
     following areas:
       ``(1) The Tibet Autonomous Region.
       ``(2) The areas that the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China designated as Tibetan Autonomous, as of 
     2018, as follows:
       ``(A) Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and 
     Pari (Tianzhu) Tibetan Autonomous County located in Gansu 
     Province.
       ``(B) Golog (Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Malho 
     (Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Tsojang (Haibei) 
     Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan 
     Autonomous Prefecture, Tsonub (Haixi) Mongolian and Tibetan 
     Autonomous Prefecture, and Yulshul (Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous 
     Prefecture, located in Qinghai Province.
       ``(C) Garze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Ngawa 
     (Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, and Muli 
     (Mili) Tibetan Autonomous County, located in Sichuan 
     Province.
       ``(D) Dechen (Diqing) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, 
     located in Yunnan Province.''.

     SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS TO COUNTER DISINFORMATION 
                   ABOUT TIBET.

       Amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
     available under section 346 of the Tibetan Policy and Support 
     Act of 2020 (subtitle E of title III of division FF of Public 
     Law 116-260) are authorized to be made available to counter 
     disinformation about Tibet from the Government of the 
     People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, 
     including disinformation about the history of Tibet, the 
     Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of 
     the Dalai Lama.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. McCaul) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the world is no stranger to the CCP's aggression. As 
they increase hostilities against Taiwan and other allies in the 
region, it is abundantly clear that the CCP seeks to dominate the Indo-
Pacific and beyond. Just look at their military activities around 
Taiwan, Mr. Speaker, their harassment of the Philippine ships in the 
South China Sea, and their support for Russia's war of aggression in 
Ukraine.
  The CCP has a long history of subjugation that extends beyond Asia. 
The CCP has a long and violent record of oppression against the people 
of Tibet. In October of 1950, Chinese Communist troops annexed Tibet, 
slaughtering tens of thousands of innocent Tibetans and monks. The 
CCP's ongoing oppression of the people of Tibet ultimately forced the 
Dalai Lama to flee to India. This persecution has continued to this 
day.
  In November, the CCP released a white paper on its policies in Tibet. 
In this document, the party doubled down on its oppression and 
crackdown on the religious and economic freedom of Tibetans. Some of 
the actions taken by the CCP include setting up boarding schools to 
``reeducate'' Tibetan children, clamping down on the use of Tibetan 
language, restricting movement of Tibetans, and even attempting to 
insert themselves into the succession of the Dalai Lama himself.
  This white paper demonstrates the need for this bill, and I am proud 
to have co-introduced this with Representative McGovern.
  The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act helps 
Tibetans in several ways. It pushes back against CCP propaganda about 
the history of Tibet. The United States has never accepted that Tibet 
was part of China since ancient times as the CCP falsely claims. This 
legislation clarifies U.S. policy and highlights the unique language, 
religion, and culture of the Tibetan people. It directs U.S. diplomacy

[[Page H3703]]

to push back against CCP propaganda. In addition, it ensures Tibetans 
have a say in their own future.
  This bill stresses a need for a dialogue between the CCP and other 
democratically elected leaders of Tibet.
  Any resolution must include the wishes and voice of the Tibetan 
people. Tibetans are a democracy-loving people who wish to practice 
their religion freely and have their own wishes and desires 
acknowledged.
  I am proud to have played a small part in supporting this dream for 
the Tibetan people.
  I thank Senators Merkley and Young who passed this bill unanimously 
through the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to push back against the 
CCP's oppression of the Tibetan people and vote in favor of the bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 138, the 
Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, and I yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 138, the Senate companion 
bill to the bipartisan House bill, H.R. 533, which the House passed 
this February.
  My good friend from Massachusetts, Representative McGovern, and 
Chairman McCaul introduced H.R. 533, and I was proud to support its 
passage out of committee and on the floor last year. I am glad the 
Senate has followed suit so we can get to this important legislation 
that addresses Beijing's severe and ongoing repression of the Tibetan 
people signed into law.
  For too long, Beijing has oppressed the Tibetan people and failed to 
honor its commitments to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai 
Lama and his representatives regarding Tibet's future. We are deeply 
concerned by Beijing's systematic efforts to erase the distinct 
religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity of the Tibetan 
people.
  In a new effort to stamp out Tibetan identity, Beijing is closing 
local schools and uprooting children from their families by placing 
them in centralized Chinese boarding schools far from home. This is 
effectively preventing Tibetan parents and communities from passing 
down their language and heritage to the next generation.
  This forced assimilation has raised significant concerns from 
multiple U.N. Special Rapporteurs who have warned that these 
residential schools function as a large-scale program designed to 
integrate Tibetans into the dominant Han culture, violating 
international human rights.
  While Beijing employs these tactics to suppress Tibetan culture, it 
simultaneously propagates disinformation about Tibet and its history.
  H.R. 533 calls out Beijing's oppressive tactics and relentless 
disinformation campaign. This bill reinforces our unwavering support 
for the Tibetan cause and calls on the PRC to engage in genuine 
dialogue with Tibetan representatives. It also strengthens the Tibetan 
Policy Act of 2002 by enhancing our public diplomacy efforts to counter 
PRC disinformation about Tibet.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. McGovern), who is the ranking member of the House Rules Committee 
and the author of H.R. 533.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of final passage of the 
Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, legislation that 
I was proud to have authored.

  This House took the lead in considering this bill, passed it with an 
overwhelming majority last February, and sent it to the Senate. The 
Senate, in its wisdom, changed only one paragraph. So the bill has come 
back to this Chamber for final passage.
  I thank my incredible co-lead, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman 
McCaul, and Ranking Member Meeks for bringing this bill to the floor 
and all of their incredible advocacy on behalf of the Tibetan 
community. I welcome the opportunity to shine a light on this 
legislation, once more, as we send it on its way to the President's 
desk.
  It has been more than 60 years since the People's Republic of China 
forced the 14th Dalai Lama into exile and took control of Tibet against 
the will of the people.
  The dispute between the Chinese and the Tibetans over governance of 
Tibet has persisted ever since, even though the Dalai Lama and the 
Tibetan people have repeatedly expressed their willingness to engage in 
dialogue.
  Meanwhile, the PRC has done everything it can to erode Tibetan 
history, language, culture, and religion, in other words, to erase the 
Tibetans as a people.
  This bill seeks to end that in the following ways: one, by explicitly 
recognizing that the Tibetan people are a people with a distinct 
religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity; two, by 
reminding everyone concerned that the Tibetan people have a right to 
self-determination under international human rights law; and three, by 
requiring the U.S. Government to actively counter the PRC's propaganda 
about Tibet, like the false claim that Tibet has been a part of China 
since ancient times, a position that the United States has never 
accepted.
  With this bill, we hope to restart dialogue between Tibet and China 
in keeping with longstanding U.S. policy.
  Mr. Speaker, the world is awash in conflict. At the heart of many 
conflicts lies the systematic denial of a people's human rights.
  The decades-old dispute between Tibet and China started as an armed 
conflict of invasion, resistance, and insurgency. In the long run, the 
only guarantee against the resumption of violence is for the People's 
Republic of China to fully respect the human rights and dignity of the 
Tibetan people.
  A vote for this bill is a vote to recognize the rights of the Tibetan 
people, and it is a vote to insist on resolving the dispute between 
Tibet and the People's Republic of China peacefully, in accordance with 
international law, through dialogue, and without preconditions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please join me and the 
distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. McCaul, in 
sending these important messages in solidarity with the Tibetan people.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding me 
the time.
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman for his remarks. 
There has been no more determined or erstwhile supporter of the Tibetan 
people than Representative McGovern. I thank him for his longstanding 
efforts on their behalf which is really our behalf, as well, as a 
country.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, for too long, the Tibetan people have 
suffered as Beijing systematically works to erase their religious, 
cultural, linguistic, and historical identity. The forced assimilation 
through centralized Chinese boarding schools and tearing children away 
from their families are beyond the pale, and its refusal to engage in 
meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama since 2010 only highlights 
Beijing's blatant disregard for resolving the Tibetan question.
  This is an important and timely measure, and I thank Senator Merkley, 
Representative McGovern, Chairman McCaul, and all those individuals 
involved in getting this bill to the finish line. I also want to extend 
my gratitude to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her unwavering support 
of this bill and principled conviction to hold the PRC accountable for 
its human rights violations.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join with all of us in 
supporting this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this body has always stood for the principles of free 
speech, independence, and individual liberties. I thank my dear and 
good friend, Mr. McGovern, for his efforts on this important 
legislation, as well as Ranking Member Meeks and Representative Bill 
Keating who worked with me to advance this bipartisan bill.
  We are always strongest when we speak with one voice as one nation in 
support of freedom and democracy. Tibet has a rich, peaceful heritage 
that the CCP attempted to erase when they

[[Page H3704]]

invaded it in 1950, but they have failed. Their attempts to quash this 
vibrant history have failed because of the resilience of the Tibetan 
people.
  The U.S. strongly condemns all CCP oppression and coercion of 
Tibetans as well as any CCP involvement in the succession of the Dalai 
Lama. Despite the CCP's attempts to erase the history and culture of 
Tibet over the last 70-plus years, it still remains vibrant, strong, 
and inspirational.
  Tibetans, like all people, have the right to religious freedom which 
includes freedom from CCP's surveillance, censorship, and detention.
  If the CCP truly does respect sovereignty, as it claims to, then they 
will engage in peaceful dialogue with the Tibetans to resolve this 
conflict, not force Tibet to accept a CCP proposal.
  Passing this bill demonstrates America's resolve that the CCP's 
status quo in Tibet is not acceptable. I can think of no greater 
message or gift to the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet than the 
swift passage of this bill to get to the President's desk as soon 
possible to help put the people of Tibet in charge of their own future.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 138.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________