The People’s Republic of China (PRC) annexed Tibet in 1950—a year after Mao Zedong founded the PRC—and has governed it as a nominal autonomous region ever since. Tibet’s spiritual leader, the 86-year-old Dalai Lama, has been living in exile in India since 1959. Beijing considers him a separatist and has refused to recognize his legitimacy.
On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the appointment of Uzra Zeya to the role of special coordinator for Tibetan issues. A career diplomat, Zeya is serving as under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights—a post she will continue concurrently.
The PRC has been accused of forcing Tibetans to assimilate to Chinese culture by mandating the learning and use of Mandarin and stifling the preservation of Tibetan language and culture. Along with Hong Kong and more recently Xinjiang, Tibet is an area of contention between Beijing and Washington. The former sees the region’s affairs as wholly domestic, while the latter believes it has a duty to speak out.
China’s Foreign Ministry criticized Zeya’s appointment in forceful terms on Tuesday. Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “Tibetan affairs are purely China’s domestic affairs and brook no interference by any foreign force. The U.S.’s designation of a so-called ‘Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues’ interferes in China’s internal affairs. We firmly oppose it and have never recognized it.”
Employing similar arguments related to the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, Zhao said Tibet has been living in harmony and prosperity since its “peaceful liberation” more than 70 years ago.
“Tibetans lead a happy life. There is no need for certain Americans to worry about them, and even less room for their lecturing,” said Zhao. “If U.S. politicians have nothing better to do, I would suggest paying more attention to serious racial discrimination and human rights issues at home.”
Zhao recommended the creation of special coordinator posts for Native Americans, U.S. ethnic minorities and pandemic response instead.
In Monday’s announcement, Blinken said Zeya would “promote substantive dialogue, without preconditions, between the [PRC] and the Dalai Lama, his representatives, or democratically elected Tibetan leaders in support of a negotiated agreement on Tibet.”
“She will promote respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans, including their freedom of religion or belief, and will support efforts to preserve their distinct historical, linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage,” he said.
The role of special coordinator was mandated by the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, which was reinforced by 2020’s Tibet Policy and Support Act. The law makes it official U.S. policy to support the succession of Tibetan Buddhist leaders without interference from the Chinese government. Under the 2020 amendment, Chinese officials found interfering in the autonomous region’s leadership can be sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.
In a statement on Tuesday, Zeya said dialogue between Beijing and the Tibetan government in exile “is essential to resolve differences and to achieve meaningful autonomy for Tibetans.”
“The PRC must also cease its harassment, intimidation and surveillance of Tibetan diaspora communities in the United States and elsewhere. Such acts, known as transnational repression, undermine our collective security,” she said.
