The United States and China in Power Transition - Strategic Studies ...

the Dalai Lama’s request for the Chinese to
stop population transfer into Tibet and eventually
return the “Chinese settlers” back to
China. Third, they categorically dismiss the
Dalai Lama’s call for the PLA to withdraw
from the Tibet region. Fourth, they snub the
Dalai Lama’s idea of making Tibet a “buffer
zone” between China and India. Finally,
they reject the Dalai Lama’s design of a
greater Tibet as a highly autonomous and
self-governing entity in China. 184
• The United States is supportive of the Dalai Lama’s
initiatives. It holds the following positions
on the Tibet issue:
— The United States “recognizes the Tibet
Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan autonomous
prefectures and counties in other
provinces as part of the PRC;”
— It urges “China to respect the unique religious,
linguistic, and cultural heritage of its
Tibetan people;”
— The United States maintains “contact with
representatives of a wide variety of political
and nonpolitical groups including Tibetans
in the United States, China, and around the
world;”
— U.S. Government officials have met and will
continue to meet with the Dalai Lama in his
capacity as an important religious leader
and Nobel laureate; and
— The United States encourages Chinese leaders
to hold talks with the Dalai Lama to resolve
the Tibet issue peacefully. In addition
to the above, the U.S. Tibetan Policy Act of
2002 also authorized the establishment of
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