New US law to impose visa ban on Chinese officials denying Americans access to Tibet

US Congress has passed a crucial bipartisan Bill that seeks to impose a visa ban on Chinese officials who deny American citizens, government officials and journalists access to Tibet, China’s sensitive Himalayan region.

The US has expressed concern in the past about the lack of access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region for American journalists, diplomats, academics and others to report on alleged religious persecution in the former home of the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama.

The legislation, passed by a unanimous voice vote, comes amidst the Trump administration imposing massive import duties on Chinese goods that has started impacting the Chinese economy.

‘Same access’

The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, which seeks to ensure that Americans are given the same access to Tibet that Chinese citizens have to the United States, was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act is about fairness, human rights and careful US diplomacy at its core. For too long, China restricted access to Tibet, preventing journalists from observing human rights abuses in Tibet and preventing Tibetan Americans from visiting their home country. This Bill seeks to reset that table,” Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said on the House Floor.

The Bill, she said, is premised on the idea that reciprocity forms the basis of diplomatic law and the practice of mutual exchanges between countries. This Bill simply requires that if Chinese officials, journalists and other citizens are able to travel freely in the US, then it’s only fair that their American counterparts are also able to do the same.

“And if Americans are not granted the same access to Tibet that the Chinese enjoy in the United States, then there should be consequences. This is more than reasonable and long-overdue,” Jayapal said.

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