US State Department Appoints New Envoy for Tibetan Human Rights Issues

US Appoints Envoy for Tibetan Issues Amid Tensions with China

The US has appointed Riley Barnes as the new special coordinator for Tibetan issues, a role created by the US Congress in 2002. The appointment was announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, coinciding with the Tibetan New Year, Losar.

Barnes will serve in this position alongside his current role as assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor. Rubio stated that the US remains committed to supporting Tibetans’ unalienable rights and their distinct cultural heritage.

The appointment comes amid a shift in the Trump administration’s approach to human rights issues globally. The new coordinator will work on Tibetan affairs, which have been a point of contention between China and the US in the past.

China has previously criticized similar appointments, viewing them as an attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. In 2020, a similar appointment was made by the US State Department during Trump’s presidency. China considers Tibet an internal affair that should not be subject to foreign interference.

The region of Tibet has been governed by China since 1951, following a military takeover. Exiled Tibetan leaders have long accused Beijing of suppressing Tibetan culture and separating families in the Himalayan region. China denies any wrongdoing, stating that its intervention ended “backward feudal serfdom.”

In related news, Radio Free Asia, a US-government-funded news outlet, has resumed broadcasting into China after shutting down operations due to funding cuts from the Trump administration. The outlet will now broadcast in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Uyghur languages.

Source: Al Jazeera