'Change is coming': Nancy Pelosi slams China for 'erasing' Tibet's culture

In a heavily worded message to China from across the border, former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday said that “change is on the way” after she met the Dalai Lama in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala.

“His Holiness Dalai Lama, with his message of knowledge, tradition, compassion, purity of soul and love, will live a long time and his legacy will live forever. But you, the President of China, you’ll be gone and nobody will give you credit for anything,” Pelosi said following her meeting with the exiled spiritual leader as part of a high-level US delegation visit to the town.

She added, “Dalai Lama would not approve of my saying that when I criticize the Chinese government, he says, let’s pray for Nancy to rid her of her negative attitudes. I hope he will indulge me today to say that change is on the way.”

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#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says "...His Holiness Dalai Lama, with his message of knowledge, tradition, compassion, purity of soul and love, will live a long time and his legacy will live forever. But you, the President of China, you'll be gone… pic.twitter.com/zf4GP5W4g6

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2024

The visit comes as the US and China have increased talks in recent months, in a bid to normalize strained ties. But news of the visit and the subject of the bill triggered swift backlash from China.

After their arrival on Tuesday, the delegation met officials from the Tibetan government-in-exile, which wants more autonomy for Tibet.

Resolve Tibet Act

The meeting between the Dalai Lama and Republican Rep. Michael McCaul-led delegation reportedly focused on the Resolve Tibet Act, recently passed by the US Congress, aimed at encouraging dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials that could result in a peaceful resolution to the dispute between Tibet and Beijing. The bill will now go to the White House for President Joe Biden’s endorsement.

The former US House Speaker said, “You heard our colleagues talk about this legislation passed last week. We had been fighting this for a long time and in the spirituality of His Holiness, with manoeuvring inside the Congress, we made progress. But it’s different now with the passage of this bill (Resolve Tibet Act) because this bill is a message to the Chinese Government that we have clarity in our thinking and our understanding of this issue of the freedom of Tibet.”

#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: During the public felicitation programme at Tsuglagkhang Complex in Dharamshala, Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says "...You heard our colleagues talk about this legislation that was passed last week. We had been fighting this for a long time and… pic.twitter.com/KlnbMTa1vU

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2024

Pelosi also said that during one of her visits to Tibet, she found that the Chinese government is trying to erase the culture of the region by reducing the use of the language.

“We saw the room where His Holiness grew up… They are trying to erase the culture by reducing the use of the language. They are trying something that we cannot let them get away with,” she said.

Visit irks China

Meanwhile, Beijing, who has repeatedly warned Washington not to interfere with Tibetan affairs, on Tuesday warned of “resolute measures” if the US signs the Resolve Tibet Act into law.

“It’s known by all that the 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian said.

He added, “We are gravely concerned over the relevant reports and urge the US side to fully recognize the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group, honor the commitments the US has made to China on issues related to Xizang, have no contact with the Dalai group in any form, and stop sending the wrong signal to the world.”

With inputs from agencies