Dianne Feinstein, the prominent and influential US Senator from California, said the recent Global Times editorial threatening the University of California San Diego and Chancellor Pradeep Khosla is unconscionable and asked it to retract the report earlier today (June 22, 2017). The Global Times is a Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece and propaganda outlet.

In a statement, Senator Feinstein said, “I find it unconscionable that a reporter for the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, would threaten UC San Diego and its chancellor and students for inviting the Dalai Lama to speak.”

She added, “The newspaper should immediately apologize and retract the article that not only threatens to withhold visas from Chancellor Pradeep Khosla but also suggests the university would be punished by withholding students.”

The Global Times, in an editorial on June 20, 2017, criticized UC San Diego for inviting the Dalai Lama to give its commencement address on June 17, 2017. It threatened the University Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, saying: “Khosla must bear the consequences for this.“ Global Times suggested that China should “not issue visas to the chancellor and not recognize diplomas or degree certificates issued by the university in China.”

The International Campaign for Tibet issued a statement on June 21, 2017 strongly condemning China’s threat of retaliation against an American university and its Chancellor. We also apprised the State Department and prominent members of Congress about this.

In her statement, Senator Feinstein said Global Times’ portrayal of the Dalai Lama was patently false. She said, “I’ve known the Dalai Lama for more than 25 years and was directly involved in the latest discussions between him and the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama doesn’t wish to separate Tibet from China. Rather, he strives for greater autonomy so Tibetans may freely practice their faith.”

Following is the full text of Senator Feinstein’s statement:

For Immediate Release – June 22, 2017
Contact: Adam Russell – (202) 224-9629

Feinstein Slams Chinese Newspaper for Threatening UC San Diego, Chancellor

Washington — Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Global Times, China’s state-controlled newspaper, threatened UC San Diego and Chancellor Pradeep Khosla for hosting the Dalai Lama:

“I find it unconscionable that a reporter for the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, would threaten UC San Diego and its chancellor and students for inviting the Dalai Lama to speak.

“The newspaper should immediately apologize and retract the article that not only threatens to withhold visas from Chancellor Pradeep Khosla but also suggests the university would be punished by withholding students.

“The newspaper’s portrayal of the Dalai Lama as an anti-China separatist is also patently false.

“I’ve known the Dalai Lama for more than 25 years and was directly involved in the latest discussions between him and the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama doesn’t wish to separate Tibet from China. Rather, he strives for greater autonomy so Tibetans may freely practice their faith.

“The Dalai Lama’s desire to end religious persecution for his people doesn’t make him a separatist, it makes him a peaceful leader who should serve as an inspiration to all students. The Chinese government and the media outlets it directly controls should recognize this and not threaten Americans or American institutions.”

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