News and Views on Tibet

China ‘systematically impeded’ travel to Tibet for journalists, diplomats: US State Dept.

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Image Representational (Photo/AP)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, March 21: The Chinese communist government has “systematically” impeded travel to Tibetan areas to journalists, diplomats and American tourists in 2021, according to a new US State Department report. The report mandated by law under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, 2018 was submitted to Congress on Wednesday, which is the fourth annual report on access to Tibet.

“The PRC authorities systematically impeded travel to the TAR and to many Tibetan areas outside the TAR for U.S. diplomats and officials, journalists, and tourists in 2021,” the report stated. The conclusive report also detailed the Chinese government of maintaining restrictions on access last year, on occasions using Covid-19 as a pretext. The Tibet Autonomous Region, which spans about half of Tibetan lands, saw decreased tourist visits from US citizens. In 2021, the PRC government also denied official requests from the US Embassy in Beijing for the chargé d’affaires to visit the TAR.

Most exiled Tibetans in India or abroad are barred from entering Tibet, but the US Reciprocal Access Act. renewed hope for Tibetans who are US citizens for a potential entry into their homelands, but the report revealed otherwise. “Tibetan Americans underwent a stricter screening process than other U.S. citizens when applying for PRC visas at PRC embassies. Tibetan Americans reported more frequent harassment by security officials in Tibetan areas than in other parts of China,” it said, adding that some Tibetans self-censored their activism out of fear of retribution against their family members in Tibet or out of fear of losing future access to Tibet.

International Campaign for Tibet’s government relations director Franz Matzner said that the report showed how China was hiding its horrific human rights violations in Tibet, “Facts are stubborn things, though, and the global community must not let the People’s Republic of China conceal its cruelty and agenda of domination against the Tibetan people.” TAR continues to be the only area under the Chinese government that requires special permission to enter.

“If China remains unwilling to let the world see what it’s doing in Tibet, the State Department should consider naming names in future reports so that everyone can see who is responsible for these policies,” Matzner further added. Moreover, in Tibetan areas outside TAR, Chinese authorities also selectively denied visa requests for meetings with government, religious and civil society leaders. The report highlighted how the closure of the US Consulate General in Chengdu in 2020 affected US’ work on Tibet.

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