This maybe speculation, but with a little over 10 days to go for Donald Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing, the US has flagged concern over China’s policies in Tibet and the treatment of Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
The US House Appropriations Committee has urged Nepal to strengthen protections of rights for Tibetan refugees since refugee registration has been frozen since 1995. Without formal recognition, thousands face restrictions on movement, employment, and access to basic services.
The US wants Nepal to resume registration of Tibetan refugees and ensure no individual is sent back to Tibet where he or she could face prosecution. Two senators have introduced a bill the ‘Tibet Atrocities Determination Act’, aimed at formally assessing China’s atrocities in Tibet. This would include its forced displacement, detention, cultural suppression, sinicisation of Tibetan Buddhism and boarding school systems.
This move comes alongside broader US efforts, including the Resolve Tibet Act, which seeks to counter China’s narrative on Tibet and support dialogue between Beijing and Tibetan representatives.
The development follows the recent visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Samir Paul Kapur, to Nepal in April, where he called for enhanced support for Tibetan refugees.
The US recently hiked by nearly seven million dollars, the $23 million it gives for Tibet-related initiatives in South Asia. Next year could see another hike of around $18 million.
