Why the Dalai Lama's succession matters for Trump's China policy

7 months ago

The Dalai Lama announced his succession will be determined by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, excluding China's involvement.
China rejected the succession plan, insisting on traditional and legal processes for selecting the successor.
US policy on Tibet operates on two levels: recognizing Tibet as part of China while supporting human rights and religious freedom there.
Historically, the US has sidelined Tibet issues when pursuing positive relations with China, as seen during the 1970s rapprochement.
The Tibetan Policy Act (TPA) of 2002 and subsequent legislations reflect US support for dialogue and Tibetan identity preservation.
US presidents have met the Dalai Lama as a religious figure, not a head of state, to avoid derailing US-China relations.
Under Trump, US-Tibet relations saw reduced engagement, with aid freezes and unfilled diplomatic positions.
Congress has shown bipartisan support for Tibet, passing acts like the TSPA (2019) and Resolve Tibet Act (2024) to counter Chinese claims.
Trump's transactional foreign policy may use Tibet as leverage in trade negotiations with China.
Current US policy on the Dalai Lama's succession appears neutral, but Beijing's actions could push Washington toward a more aggressive stance.

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