U.S. Awards Medal to the Dalai Lama, Angering China

By Anastacia Mott Austin

There was nary a dry eye in the House as the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal this week, for his work as "a leading figure of moral and religious authority."

The highest honor a civilian may receive from Congress, the medal was bestowed up the Dalai by President Bush himself, despite heavy lobbying and protests from the Chinese government, who view the Dalai Lama as a traitor.

The Dalai Lama has long advocated for increased autonomy for Tibet, a mountainous region whose borders and leadership are issues of debate between the leaders of China and the Tibetan Government in Exile, which is located in India. The Tibetan Government is Exile is not recognized by any other government, and the world community generally views Tibet as being under the rule of the People’s Republic of China. But the deeply religious, primarily Buddhist region of Tibet faces increasing oppression by an atheistic government.

"I know myself, as a Tibetan—particularly as someone coming from that part of the world—the religious freedom to the Tibetans is something that is even difficult to explain," says Lodi Gyari, special envoy to the Dalai Lama, to reporters. "It is, for them, more precious than life."

While historically the Tibetan people have claimed to be an independent nation, the current Dalai Lama has said that he would negotiate with Chinese leaders in exchange for an autonomous status for Tibet under the rule of China.

But Chinese leadership is suspicious of this "middle way" plan, feeling that it is simply a first step toward the fight for Tibetan independence, and the exiled spiritual leader has not been allowed to return to his homeland for many years.

By giving the Congressional Gold Medal, and by having President Bush bestow it personally, the United States sends a strong message to the Chinese government about where it stands on the Tibet issue.

Chinese leaders are not pleased. Liu Jianchao, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, told the press, "The Chinese Government strongly opposes the U.S. Congress giving the Dalai Lama a so-called award. We resolutely oppose any person in any country using the Dalai issue to interfere in China's internal affairs." Some political pundits believe that the timing isn’t the best, as the United States needs the support of China on issues like the recent suppression of protests in Burma, and political issues in Iran and the Darfur region.

But President Bush remained unconcerned about the reaction in China to the award. "I told the Chinese president, President Hu, that I was going to go to the ceremony. I brought it up, and I said, ‘I’m going because I want to honor this man,’" said the President.

He later added, "I have consistently told the Chinese that religious freedom is in their nation’s interest. I don't think it's going to severely damage relations. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it ever damages relations when an American president talks about, you know, religious tolerance and religious freedom is good for a nation."

China has faced increasing pressure in recent months as various nations have met more publicly with the Dalai Lama, which is a change from the past. President Bush is the first American President to appear openly with the Dalai Lama.