The trade war between United States and China seems to be taking a different turn and lately the US Congress has passed (by unanimous voice vote) a crucial bipartisan bill to impose visa ban on Chinese officials who deny to American journalists, officials and citizens access to Tibet.
Called as the ‘Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act’, the bill is to ensure Americans are given same access to Tibet like the Chinese get to the United States.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said on the House Floor, “The Reciprocal Act 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.”
According to Jayapal the bill is based on reciprocity forms of diplomatic law as well as practice of mutual exchanges between nations. It requires if Chinese can freely travel in the US, the American counterparts too should enjoy the same traveling to Tibet.
She added, “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.”
The bill is also a true signal to the people of Tibet that US has not forgotten them and lawmakers will stand up for human rights in the country.
Congressman Jim McGovern said the bill imposes real consequences for bad behavior of China.
