The US-China summit is a critical opportunity for President Obama to press President Hu for a resolution on Tibet, where tensions between Chinese and Tibetans have led to a dangerous cycle of unrest, confrontation, and repression.
President Obama has demonstrated his support for the Dalai Lama and his Middle Way approach, which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibetans within the People’s Republic of China. Only Hu has the authority to set a new policy for Tibet that acknowledges and addresses the injustices, inequities and the inequality between Chinese and Tibetans. This is what the Tibetan people want.
This summit is the right time and the right place to tackle Tibet. We ask President Obama to secure a commitment from President Hu on the immediate resumption of the dialogue between Chinese officials and the Dalai Lama’s representatives so that a solution for Tibet can be agreed upon, and Tibetans and Chinese can live together in peace and prosperity.
Related links
- Video of comments delivered by Ngawang Sangdrol at a Congressional press conference on “human rights in Hu Jintao’s China”
- Video of comments delivered by ICT president, Mary Beth Markey, at a coalition rally in Lafayette Square Park on January 19
- ICT press release, Tibetans across American urge President Obama to raise Tibet during China summit
- Letter requesting President Obama make Tibet “substantive” part of 2011 US – China summit
- HRW press release: China: US should recognize critics of Chinese government; raise deteriorating rights environment
- Letter to President Obama concerning human rights in China
- Schedule of events and activities during Hu Jintao’s state visit
- An open letter to Hu Jintao appearing in The Asian Age