Three important provisions defending the rights of Tibetans were approved by Congress today with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The success of these provisions despite the obstacles posed by a divided Congress is a testament to America’s ongoing support of the Tibetan people during their continued oppression by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Trio of provisions
The first provision reauthorizes the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act (RATA), which provides a mechanism for the United States to rebuff China’s restrictions on American government officials, journalists, independent observers, Tibetan Americans, and tourists seeking access to Tibet. The bill was originally passed in 2018 and has been renewed for another five years.
“Congress took a strong stand by including these provisions in the 2024 NDAA legislation in support of Tibet and self-determination across Asia,” said Tencho Gyatso, President of ICT.
“RATA is vital to continuing to bring light to the truth of how Tibet is treated by the Chinese government and ensuring that Chinese officials who try to cut Tibet off from the world are not allowed access to the United States. We hope that the President will swiftly sign the bill,” she continued.
The second provision provides for continued monitoring of the Tibetan Plateau in Department of Defense Annual reports. It adds an assessment provision on the influence of the PRC on the Tibetan Plateau through the Department of Defense annual reporting on Military and Security Developments.
The third requires reporting on the impact of the closure of the American consulate in Chengdu. The Chengdu consulate was tasked with monitoring developments in Tibet, and Beijing’s closure of the consulate shifted this work to the embassy in Beijing, which is far removed from Tibet.
ICT thanks the Members of Congress and staff who worked hard on these provisions, including Senators Marco Rubio, Jim Risch, and Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Michael McCaul and Jim McGovern.