Tibetan govt-in-exile recognised by US, says its president

Dharamsala, November 26

Lobsang Sangay, president of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) or the Tibetan government-in-exile, who was recently invited to the White House in the US, has claimed that the US Government has recognised their government-in-exile.

Sangay, currently in the US, said not only has the United States recognised the Tibetan government-in-exile but also touched upon the sensitive “one China policy”.

The Tibetan government-in-exile is recognised by few countries officially. It is not recognised by India despite the fact that it has its headquarters in Dharamsala.

“In the last 60 years, the White House has always said ‘allowing you to enter and inviting you inside will amount to acknowledging or recognising the Tibetan government-in- exile’. Once you recognise that government, you raise the issue of status of Tibet, whether it is independent or not. It touches the ‘one China policy’. So it was very sensitive,” Sangay told mediapersons. He said he did understand that timing had a role in the move, coming as it did after the spread of the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, which has created massive health, economic and geo-political uncertainty.

“The trust deficit has increased manifold with Washington relooking its China policy. From cooperation, it is moving to competition, focusing on human rights for confrontation. Washington has decided it will call out China,” said Sangay.

This is not the first instance in recent months that the US has challenged the “one China policy”. Intensified engagements with the Taiwanese leadership and the announcement that the US follows the ‘one China policy’ guided by the Taiwan relations openly displayed Washington’s changed view towards Taipei. China reacted sharply both verbally and in action, he said. — TNS