India Foundation organized the seventh session of the Round-Table Discussions in the ongoing “Tibet Talks” series. The topic for this session was “The Resolve Tibet Act: Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives”. The session was addressed by Dr Tenzin Dorjee, Senior Researcher and Strategist, Tibet Action Institute. The Round-Table Discussion took place on 9 July 2024 (Tuesday) at the India Foundation office, with the session chaired by former Ambassador Dilip Sinha.
To start the discussion, Dr Dorjee emphasized the importance of the Resolve Tibet Act as it symbolized a change in the United States’ policy towards Tibet, especially with the Act explicitly stating that the U.S never recognized Tibet historically as a part of China. This shift in tone displays the U.S’ renewed focus on advocating for the collective right of self-determination instead of purely individual rights for the people of Tibet. Additionally, Dr Dorjee highlighted his own personal experiences: growing up in India, attending Tibetan schools, and living in the United States. He then underscores how three generations of Tibetans living in exile have maintained the Tibetan culture, language, and lifestyle that continues to flourish in India, given the country’s commitment towards protecting the government in exile while providing Tibetans with a space to live and preserve their culture in peace. Furthermore, Dr Dorjee details the importance of the Act’s passage for Tibet’s status on the world stage. With the Act invoking the idea of self-determination for the people of Tibet, the U.S is attempting to shift the mainstream perspective from a diplomatic to an international law point of view.
To conclude, Mr. Dorjee emphasizes how the Resolve Tibet Act has laid the groundwork for new opportunities to further expand the movement to free Tibet.
