US ambassador to visit Tibet ‘to raise concerns about limits on religion and culture’
- Trip is chance to talks to local leaders to raise long-standing issues, embassy says
- US has passed law to deny visas to Chinese officials who restrict foreigners’ access to autonomous region
The US ambassador to China was scheduled to visit Tibet this week, a US embassy spokesperson said – the first trip to the region by a US ambassador since 2015, amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The visit by ambassador Terry Branstad follows the passage of a law in December that requires the United States to deny visas to Chinese officials in charge of implementing policies that restrict access to Tibet for foreigners, legislation that was denounced by China.
“This visit is a chance for the ambassador to engage with local leaders to raise long-standing concerns about restrictions on religious freedom and the preservation of Tibetan culture and language,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Branstad would be travelling to Qinghai and neighbouring Tibet from May 19 to 25 on a trip that would include official meetings as well as visits to religious and cultural heritage sites, the spokesperson said.