Buddhist Diplomacy: History And Status Quo. - USC Center on ...

38 BUDDHIST DIPLOMACY: HISTORY AND STATUS QUOthe United States since the Cold War era. 167 In 1991, as the SovietUnion was disintegrating, the Dalai Lama made a historic visit tothe Russian <strong>Buddhist</strong> republics of Buryatia, Aginski and Kalmykia.However, when he planned to make another visit in 2010, theRussian government assured the Chinese government that he wouldnot be granted a visa. 168 In 2011, the South African governmentdenied the Dalai Lama’s request for a visa allegedly under China’spressure. 169 Second, some of the Dalai Lama’s followers, includingmonks and nuns in Tibet, have showed signs of radicalizing theircause by engaging in riots (including the 2008 Lhasa unrest) andby committing a series of self-immolations since 2011, whichhave gained sympathy for their cause but may stray away from themiddle-approach that the Dalai Lama advocates. It is likely thatsome activist groups of Tibetan monks and nuns may give up thenon-violent approach, which will pose great challenges to both theDalai Lama and the Chinese government. Lastly, the 14th DalaiLama’s reincarnation will almost certainly become an issue for themajor powers’ diplomacy. As the Chinese government insists thata reincarnated 15th Dalai Lama must get its approval, the 14thDalai Lama has claimed that his successor could be female or foundoutside Tibet. 170 Foreseeably, if the 15th Dalai Lama is found in theUnited States, India, Mongolia, or Russia, he or she would certainlybecome a flashpoint between China and the concerning countries.U.S. <strong>Buddhist</strong> diplomacyAlthough the U.S. Constitution dictates separation of churchand state, in foreign affairs it has engaged in religious affairs andthe politics associated with it. The U.S. government’s engagementwith Buddhism primarily has focused on supporting the Dalai Lama,promoting religious freedom worldwide, and dealing with politicalissues that have to do with Buddhism.1. U.S. support of the Dalai LamaThe U.S. first became involved with <strong>Buddhist</strong> diplomacy andthe Tibetan Dalai Lama regime when President Franklin Rooseveltwrote to the fourteenth Dalai Lama in 1943 asking him to assist two