U.S. Special Coordinator on Tibet Uzra Zeya, who is currently on a three-day visit to Nepal, met with the representatives of the Tibetan community in Kathmandu, on May 21.

 The visit is being seen as a strong message to China. In recent weeks, U.S and China are at fresh loggerheads over Taiwan and Tibet issues.

On May 21, she visited the Tibetan refugee camp at Lalitpur followed by a visit to Boudhanath Stupa. In Lalitpur, she held discussions with representatives of the Tibetan community about their human rights issues.  Before arriving in Nepal, she visited Dharmashala, India, and met spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

China has opposed US Under Secretary and Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya’s meeting with the head of the “Tibetan government-in-exile” and some Tibetan representatives in India on May 18 in Dharmashala, India. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian in a regular press briefing on May 19 said the so-called “Tibetan government-in-exile” is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organization in total violation of China’s Constitution and laws. It is not recognized by any country in the world, he said. The U.S is urging the Nepal government to ensure the human rights of Tibetan refugees in Kathmandu.

America, however, has accused China of misrepresenting its policy on Tibet and Taiwan. Ned Price, State Department Spokesperson on May 21 said, “The United States does not subscribe to the PRC’s “one China principle” – we remain committed to our longstanding, bipartisan one-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, Three Joint Communiques, and Six Assurances.”

 The United States has said it strongly advocates for Taiwan to regain its observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA) the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), leading into its annual meeting May 22-28 in Geneva.