A bipartisan bill titled the Tibet Atrocities Determination Act has been introduced by Rick Scott and Jeff Merkley, seeking a formal investigation into whether the actions of the Chinese government in Tibet constitute genocide or crimes against humanity.
Proposed on Wednesday, the legislation directs the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within one year of its enactment. The report would assess whether policies implemented by Chinese authorities in Tibet meet the legal thresholds defined under international law for genocide or crimes against humanity.
The bill highlights several areas of concern, including allegations of systematic killings, torture, forced displacement, and forced sterilization. It also calls for scrutiny of the so-called “colonial boarding school system,” under which Tibetan children are reportedly separated from their families. Additionally, the legislation points to efforts by Chinese authorities to “Sinicise” Tibetan Buddhism and suppress Tibetan language and cultural identity.
Beyond fact-finding, the Act mandates recommendations for U.S. policy responses. These could include visa restrictions, targeted sanctions, and other diplomatic measures against Chinese officials deemed responsible for such actions.
The senators noted that the bill’s introduction on April 29 coincides with Martyrs’ Day, marking the death anniversary of Pawo Thupten Ngodup. Pawo Thupten Ngodup self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet and is commemorated annually by the pro-independence group in exile, the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), to honour those who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet’s freedom struggle movement.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Senator Scott asserted that “Communist China is committing genocide in Tibet. There is no way around it. The regime in Beijing has engaged in systematic killings, torture, forced sterilization, forced displacement, government-sanctioned kidnapping, and a myriad of other crimes against humanity in its oppression of the Tibetan people.”
He further linked these actions to broader human rights concerns in China, including the treatment of Uyghurs, restrictions on religious freedom, and the detention of political prisoners such as Jimmy Lai. “This is par for the course for an evil regime that is simultaneously waging a genocide against the Uyghurs, suppressing Christianity, and locking up political prisoners like my friend Jimmy Lai. The bloodshed needs to end, and China needs to be held accountable for all of it. I am glad to be partnering with Sen. Merkley on this effort to hold the Chinese government accountable,” he stated.
Senator Merkley echoed these concerns, stating that “In the face of China’s continued assault on Tibetans—escalating cultural erasure, child separation, surveillance, imprisonment, and torture—America can’t stand silent as the Chinese government continues to ignore the rights of the Tibetan people under international law, we must be clear that these crimes will not be ignored.”
