![]() He chuckles throughout his talk and often slaps visitors on the back. The elderly monk, known for his simplicity and jovial style, prefers to participate in meetings with religious leaders, and lectures businessmen on ethics for the new millennium and the art of happiness. The Dalai Lama, or Ocean of Wisdom, is the leading spiritual figure bringing Buddhist teachings to the international community. Tibetan leaders in Dharamsala are now hopeful of the Dalai Lama-Modi meeting with the CTA headed by democratically elected Penpa Tsering clarifying in 2021 that His Holiness is expected to meet Modi after the Covid-19 situation stablises. The Indian leaders and officials have generally been cautious about public contact with Tibet’s spiritual leader to avoid upsetting Beijing, who regards the spiritual leader as a dangerous “splittist”, or separatist, and frowns on any engagement with any political leader. Last month Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering, who is the head of Tibet’s government-in-exile, testified virtually at the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s hearing, highlighting small and large-scale repression that is deliberately intended to annihilate the foundation of Tibetan culture and national identity. The Indian functionalities see the probable meeting - the first publicly with the globetrotting aging Buddhist monk, feted by some of the world’s top leaders, since he took over as Prime Minister in 2014, can be seen in the context to send a stern warning amid relations between India and China worsening in the recent times and in a strategic shift that India is behind the Dalai Lama for any decision he takes on his reincarnation.Īlso India will try to signal to the US the intent to raise the profile of the Tibet issue at a time when the US administration passed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act in 2020, making it clear that only the Dalai Lama should have control over his reincarnation, not complying with China’s laws to impose its sanctioned successor. The expectation stems from the fact that Modi had only spoken with the Dalai Lama to convey greetings on his 86th birthday in July 2021 and wished him a long and healthy life. The issue of a successor to the 14th Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile in Dharamsala since 1959, gained traction as he turned 86 in July last year.For the Tibetans in exile, Prime Minister Modi’s presence at the Buddhist summit has given rise to the pious hope of his meeting with the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in northern India for over six decades. In 2020, the US came out with legislation reaffirming the absolute right of Tibetan people to choose a successor to the Dalai Lama and the preservation of Tibet's environment.Īfter the US Congress passed the legislation, China had accused Washington of meddling in its internal affairs.Ĭhina has been insisting that the selection of the next Dalai Lama has to be decided within Chinese territory and that it has to have a say in the matter. The US has been consistently supporting the Tibetan cause notwithstanding China's strong objection. On December 20, she was concurrently appointed as the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues. Zeya was sworn-in as the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 14 last year. Tsering the elected head of Tibet's India-based exile government the Central Tibetan Administration had also met House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders.Ĭhina considers the 14th Dalai Lama as a political exile who has attempted to split Tibet from China under the guise of religion.Īccording to the people cited above, key issues relating to the Tibetan cause are likely to figure in the talks.Īs the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues, Zeya has been coordinating the Biden administration's policies, programmes and projects relating to the Tibetan cause. Last month, Tibetan exile leader Penpa Tsering paid a visit to Washington D.C. In New Delhi, people familiar with the development said last month that Zeya will hold talks with the Dalai Lama and other senior leaders of the Tibetan government in exile in Dharamsala, signalling the Biden administration's commitment to the Tibetan cause. ![]() ![]() It will be the first high-level contact between the US and the Tibetan leadership after Joe Biden became President in January last year. The delegation will include USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Anjali Kaur," it added. "She will also discuss partnering with India and Nepal during this Year of Action for the Summit for Democracy.
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