The Resolve Tibet Act 2024: A Step Forward?
Chahak Mittal
Historical Relations: Tibet and China
For about the last 1,500 years, Tibet has sought complete autonomy from China with many generations of resistance, culminating in a series of independence movements and unrest over the years. Since the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1950, Tibetans continually resisted the occupation. Starting from 1987, the movement gained immense worldwide attention, with words such as ‘Free Tibet’ being hailed largely in parts of Europe and in the US. Until the Tibet 2008 unrest or “uprising,” as coined by Tibetan media, the messages of each protest have varied with some demands remaining consistent. Tibetans have repeatedly demanded the protection of Tibetan identity, history, self-determination, human rights, and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.
Today, the Tibetan struggle and acts of resistance are not as audacious. Even the daily and mundane actions mark certain subtle acts of protest. They have evolved from armed resistance to a more diplomatic and advocacy-based approach, seeking international support and aiming for cultural preservation and genuine autonomy. The movement continues to face significant challenges, but it is also receiving substantial support from the global community.
Resolve Tibet Act 2024
The US Congress has recently passed the Tibet Bill S-138, with an urge from China to resolve the Tibet dispute. It all began after a meeting regarding the Bill with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala with US Congressman Michael McCaul and former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. This Bill, known as the Resolve Tibet Act, refutes Beijing’s claims about Tibet and urges it to stop the dissemination of disinformation about Tibet’s history and people. The Bill had been earlier described as ‘groundless’ and ‘futile’ by the Chinese government.
The Chinese government has time and again vehemently rejected the view that Tibetan culture or ways of life are under threat. However, as per many claims, Chinese authorities strictly control several communications, causing total blackouts during sensitive times, political protests or debates. There have been several cases of imprisonment for those who surmounted the risk of sharing any information outside of Tibet.
After years of resistance, it can be said that the passage of the Resolve Tibet Act signifies increased international attention and support for Tibet, reinforcing the US’ stance on Tibetan self-determination and cultural rights. This move may be able to invigorate the Tibetan independence movement by providing it with a significant political backing and encouraging other countries to adopt similar stances. By gaining the status of “unresolved Tibet” under a US policy, the Act certainly applies pressure on Beijing to resume negotiations with the Tibetan representatives, which have been stalled since 2010. The Act can challenge China’s false claims and narrative on Tibet, supporting the preservation of Tibetan cultural and religious identity. Even though the Act itself does not guarantee direct or necessary political changes in Tibet, it aims to create a conducive environment for dialogue and understanding. Its effectiveness will certainly depend on its implementation and the international community’s willingness to support and enforce its provisions.
Can the US Resolve Tibet Act make a Difference?
One might argue that since 1989, there have been several instances of global support, or acts provisioned in favour of Tibet, but can the US Resolve Tibet Act make a difference? A few instances to name:
Tibetan Policy Act 2002, that emphasised on the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage, called for sustainable development projects in Tibetan areas, and supported Tibetan refugees in South Asia;
Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, that aimed at promoting more transparency and freedom of movement within Tibet, by granting access to Tibetan areas for US diplomats, journalists, and tourists, which the Chinese government often restricted;
Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020, that reaffirmed the US support for the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach and opposed any Chinese interference in the process of selecting Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including the future Dalai Lama.
While these Acts and provisions have, over the years, demonstrated a consistent pattern of US legislative support for the Tibetan cause, it can be said that it’s for the first time that one of the major claims under the Tibetan independence movement has been reinforced via this Act – An explicit rejection of Chinese claims. As per Phayul under the Central Tibet Administration (CTA), the Resolve Tibet Act explicitly rejects China’s historical claims over Tibet and makes it official under the US policy stating the status of Tibet as “unresolved.” Previous Acts, while supportive of Tibetan autonomy and rights, did not go as far in challenging the Chinese narrative about Tibetan history and territorial claims. As per The Diplomat, the Act takes a landmark step in challenging the CCP’s historical revisionism.
The Act also calls for unconditional negotiations between the Chinese government and Tibetan representatives. As far as the previous legislations had been concerned, while they were in support of the dialogue, the new Act’s demand for unconditional dialogue without any preconditions comes as a more robust strategy for engagement.
As per CTA, the new Act also brings into the picture one of the biggest demands by the Tibetan independence leaders – the demarcation of the territory of Tibet. The Act makes it clear that Tibet refers not only to the ‘Tibet Autonomous Region’ (TAR) but also includes Tibetan areas of the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, and Sichuan. This broader definition has been able to underscore the Act’s comprehensive approach to the Tibetan issue, beyond just the Autonomous Region and has put across the stance on the expanded definition of Tibet.
Repression and control exercised by China over the years have been major causes of the failure of the Tibetan independence movement. China exercises tight control over Tibet through extensive security measures, surveillance, and restrictions on religious and cultural practices. This repression has made it difficult for any organised resistance or independence movement to gain momentum within Tibet. However, with the Act’s more comprehensive approach than incremental as compared to previous legislations, it can provide significant impetus to Tibetan independence movement in terms of bringing larger territorial issues to the fore than just specific issues like specific/reciprocal access or the appointing of a special coordinator for Tibetan issues.
Impact on Tibetan Independence Movement
While the Act has been designed to support Tibetan autonomy and counter Chinese disinformation, it does carry potential risks and disadvantages for the Tibetan independence movement.
One of the major ones is that it could cause internal divisions and provoke harsher Chinese repression. Given that the Act supports the idea of genuine autonomy, for many movement leaders, it disturbs or dilutes the idea of ‘complete independence.’ This could lead to a split within the Tibetan movement between those advocating for full independence and those willing to accept autonomy. Many arguments indicate that the Act impacts the movement’s objective severely, inadvertently shifting the people’s ideology towards “settling for autonomy” while they were eyeing independence. In response to the Act and the division of Tibetan people, it can also intensify China’s repressive measures in Tibet to prevent any rise in independence sentiment. Increased surveillance, tighter control over religious and cultural practices, and harsher crackdowns on protests could result in maintaining control and weaken the overall movement.
The Act could also strain international diplomatic efforts, in turn reducing international support for the Tibetan independence movement. After the Act, China has called out US Congress for a “highly interfering” move, which is believed to potentially further strain US-China relations. The straining, in turn, can largely affect broader geopolitical dynamics. If China perceives increased support for Tibetan autonomy as a threat to its sovereignty, there are chances that it will leverage its economic and political influence to isolate the US and discourage other countries from supporting Tibetan causes. This could significantly reduce the global support base for the Tibetan independence movement.
International Support and Advocacy
Each independence movement is shaped by its unique historical, cultural, and political contexts. The Resolve Tibet Act of 2024 significantly impacts the Tibetan independence movement, providing both momentum and challenges in their pursuit of autonomy and independence. While it provides crucial support and legitimacy to the Tibetan independence movement by increasing international awareness and applying diplomatic pressure on China, it also poses challenges. This includes the potential for increased Chinese repression and internal divisions within the movement. The Act’s impact will largely depend on how effectively the Tibetan advocates and their international supporters navigate these complexities to push for genuine autonomy or complete independence.