Amid Shrill Protests By China, Trump Signs Off On Legislation Reinforcing Tibetians' Right To Choose Dalai Lama's Successor

US President Donald Trump has signed-off on the legislation that supports Tibetans’ rights to choose the Dalai Lama’s successor, Hindustan Times reports.

The US Congress passed the Tibet Policy and Support Act last week, which encourages the establishment of a US consulate in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet autonomous region.

The law also promotes the right of the citizens of the region to preserve their environment though the Chinese foreign ministry has staunchly opposed this act of the US government.

Wang Wenbin, China’s foreign ministry’s spokesperson, told last week, “We urge the US side to stop meddling in China’s internal affairs and refrain from signing into law these negative clauses and acts, lest it further harms our further cooperation and bilateral relations.”

China is reportedly eager to pick the next Dalai Lama to divide the world of Tibetan Buddhism. Beijing had in fact arrested a six-year-old boy named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima in May 1995 after the lad was identified to be the reincarnation of Panchen Lama, who is the second-most senior figure in the largest school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Losang Sangay, president of Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamshala said, “This legislation sends a powerful message of hope and justice to the Tibetans inside Tibet and bolsters US support for the protection of Tibetan people’s religious freedom, human rights, environmental rights and exile Tibetan democracy like never before.”

The US legislation will pressurise China in coalition with other countries to let the 14th Dalai Lama identify his reincarnation rather than nominating someone of its own to divide the Tibetans.