Tibetan Leader Penpa Tsering Addresses Tibet Issues in US Talks Ahead of Geneva Trip

Tibetan Leader Meets US Officials, Advocates for Tibet’s Cause in Washington

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, concluded a high-profile diplomatic mission to Washington DC last week, meeting with key US officials to advocate for Tibet amid ongoing concerns about Chinese influence in the region.

On February 5, Tsering met with US Senator Jeff Merkley, a longstanding supporter of Tibet and the original sponsor of the bipartisan Resolve Tibet Act of 2024. The following day, he held discussions with the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, capping his official visit to the United States.

During his Washington engagements, Tsering conducted a series of high-level meetings designed to bolster international support for Tibet’s cause. According to a report from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), his discussions with prominent think tanks focused particularly on countering disinformation campaigns attributed to the People’s Republic of China.

The Tibetan leader participated in the International Religious Freedom Conference and held a fireside chat at the Atlantic Council, where he shared insights on Tibetan democracy, religious freedom, and the contentious issue of succession—a topic of increasing significance as questions persist about the future selection process for the next Dalai Lama.

“These platforms provided critical opportunities to highlight the ongoing challenges facing Tibetans,” said a diplomatic observer familiar with the meetings. “The succession question in particular remains highly sensitive, with China insisting on controlling the process while Tibetan Buddhists maintain this is a religious matter outside Beijing’s authority.”

Throughout his visit, Tsering was accompanied by Namgyal Choedup, Representative of the Office of Tibet in Washington DC, and Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet. The delegation met with supporters from across America’s political spectrum, seeking to maintain the traditionally strong bipartisan support for Tibet in US politics.

The CTA report noted that Tsering placed special emphasis on engaging with younger members of Congress, recognizing the need to cultivate support among rising political leaders who will shape US-Tibet relations in coming years.

After concluding his Washington engagements, Tsering departed for Geneva on February 7 to attend the Geneva Forum 2026, continuing his international advocacy efforts on a different stage.

Meanwhile, on February 5, the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet met to discuss action plans concerning Tibet during Australia’s ongoing parliamentary session, signaling continued international attention to the Tibet issue beyond American shores.

The diplomatic push comes at a time of heightened tension regarding Tibet’s status. Since China’s control of Tibet began in 1950, the Tibetan diaspora and its government-in-exile have continued to advocate for meaningful autonomy, protection of human rights, religious freedom, and self-determination. The CTA has consistently pushed for a “Middle Way” approach seeking genuine autonomy within China rather than complete independence.

International human rights organizations have documented ongoing restrictions on religious practice, language rights, and cultural expression in Tibet, while Chinese authorities maintain that they have brought economic development and modernization to the region.

The Resolve Tibet Act, which Senator Merkley sponsors, represents one of the more significant recent legislative efforts in the US to address the Tibet situation, though specific provisions of the bill remain under discussion in Congress.

Analysts note that Tibet remains a sensitive component of US-China relations, with Beijing consistently viewing international meetings with Tibetan leaders as interference in what it considers internal affairs. Nevertheless, diplomatic engagement with Tibet’s government-in-exile continues to be an important symbolic gesture of support from democratic nations.