US Embassy Spokesperson on Dharamsala Visit: Tibet-China Solution Lies in Direct Talks, Not US Statements

DHARAMSALA, 28 August: Christopher Elms, spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi, emphasized that a long-term solution to bring stability to the Tibet-China dispute will come through negotiations between the Dalai Lama or his representatives and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), rather than from US statements. Elms made these remarks on Tuesday while visiting the Tibet Express bureau as part of his three-day visit to Dharamsala, the exile headquarters of the Tibetan people.

Clarification on US Policy

When asked about President Biden’s statement following the signing of the Tibet-China Dispute Act, which declared that the act wouldn’t change the US’s long-standing policy of recognising Tibet as part of China, Elms provided a detailed explanation:

“When the resolution of the Tibet-China Dispute act was passed, first by Congress in June and then signed into law by President Biden in July, the President did put out a statement after signing the act. In that statement, he did say that our policy on Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China has not changed. So he, as the President, has oversight over that decision. Congress drafted the bill, and he, of course, signed it into law. But the decision of the One China policy does fall under the president, and the act does not represent any change in that policy.”

Elms further elaborated on the US stance: “Part of it is our view, our long-standing view that for a long-term and durable solution, there needs to be a direct negotiation and direct discussion between the Dalai Lama or his representatives and the PRC, and that needs to happen without any preconditions.”

The US Embassy spokesperson stressed that, “It will not come from a statement from the US. It’s just going to have to be direct negotiations between the Dalai Lama or his representatives and the PRC.”

Addressing Contradictions and Human Rights

When questioned about the apparent contradiction between the US Congress’s view of Tibet as an independent country and the White House’s stance that it’s part of China, Elms focused on the importance of human rights.

“It’s important in this case for the Tibetan people, but also around the world, that people have their human rights respected,” he stated. “We are strongly defending the human rights of the Tibetan people that need to be respected by the PRC.”

Elms emphasised the need for a degree of autonomy for the Tibetan people that respects their distinct historical, cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage. He suggested that there is space for “negotiations that allows for the respect of human rights and the respect of Tibetan culture within the country of china”

The US Embassy spokesperson concluded by reiterating that this conversation needs to happen directly between the Tibetan people under the Dalai Lama and the government of the People’s Republic of China.

This is Elms’ maiden visit to Dharamsala, the exile headquarters of the Tibetan people. He is in the region for a three-day visit from August 26th to 28th. He is accompanied by Robin Bansal, Advisor for Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of the United States of America.