This bill addresses issues relating to Tibet, including by establishing a statutory definition of Tibet that includes areas in Chinese provinces outside the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
For the purposes of U.S. policies and activities relating to Tibet, this bill defines Tibet to include the TAR and specified areas designated by China's government as Tibetan Autonomous in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces. (Generally, when China's government refers to Tibet, it means only the TAR, although there are also predominantly Tibetan prefectures and counties designated as Tibetan Autonomous by China's government and reflected in this bill's definition of Tibet. China's government formally established the TAR in 1965.)
Furthermore, the responsibilities of the Office of the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues shall include working to ensure that U.S. government statements and documents counter disinformation about Tibet by China's government and the Chinese Communist Party, including disinformation about Tibet's history and institutions.
This bill also states that it is U.S. policy that the dispute between Tibet and China must be resolved in accordance with international law by peaceful means through dialogue without preconditions.
