A delegation of US congressional leaders, led by former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, met with the Dalai Lama in his Indian home on Wednesday. The visit was denounced in advance by China’s government, which considers the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader a separatist. The delegation visited the offices of the Tibetan government in exile, which promotes autonomy for Tibet within China.
The trip was condemned by Chinese officials who consider any support for Tibet’s autonomy as interference in their internal affairs. American officials have met often with the Dalai Lama, but Pelosi’s presence in the delegation raised reminders of her controversial 2022 trip to Taiwan, which provoked a strong response from China. The visit comes days after Congress passed a bipartisan bill calling on China to begin a dialogue with Tibetan leaders to find a solution to the long-running conflict.
The visit also coincides with Washington and New Delhi deepening their relationship, motivated in part by a shared Chinese threat. National security advisor Jake Sullivan is currently holding talks on expanding defense and technological cooperation with India this week. The discussions indicate that Washington prioritizes its relationship with India and increasingly sees it as a counterweight to Beijing.
A spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration emphasized that the situation in Tibet should not be seen through the lens of US-China rivalry but as an existential threat as China assimilates the region. They hope that world leaders will champion the cause of Tibet and encourage Chinese leaders to reinstate dialogue to resolve the conflict.
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