RECIPROCAL ACCESS TO TIBET ACT

The Tibetan people are locked inside Tibet – and the rest of the world is locked out.

In violation of human rights and diplomatic norms, the Chinese government keeps Tibetans from leaving their homeland (which China invaded nearly 70 years ago) and bans foreigners from unfettered access to Tibet.

Under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act (H.R. 1872), introduced by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), Chinese officials who prevent Americans, including Tibetan-Americans, from entering Tibet will be prevented from entering the US.

This bipartisan bill was approved unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee. Now, the entire House needs to pass it.

Ask your Rep. to cosponsor H.R. 1872 and bring it to the floor of the House.

The reasons why are simple.

• China’s policies are unfair. China won’t let American diplomats, journalists or citizens freely enter Tibet, but Chinese delegations, state media and tourists travel without obstruction in the US.
• The Chinese government discriminates against Tibetan-Americans and frequently denies them the right to visit their family members in Tibet.
• China’s lack of reciprocity is a threat to our economy and a long-term danger to our national security.
• Every day, China violates Tibetans’ human rights and subjects them to vicious abuse. Reciprocal access will shine a light on their suffering.
• Reciprocal access shows that the US has a strong interest in supporting the aspirations of the Tibetan people and would also pressure China to restart negotiations with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader and a worldwide symbol of peace.

Have your own reasons for supporting reciprocal access? Share them with us using #AccessToTibet, and we’ll republish your best content.

Watch highlights of the US House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act.