Dharamshala, 28^th July: According to a State Department official, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with a representative of Tibet’s spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, in New Delhi on Wednesday, creating history and a move that is likely to enrage China. According to the spokeswoman, Mr. Blinken met briefly with Ngodup Dongchung, a representative of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

Why it matters:

Mr. Dongchun Ngodup is a representative of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan’s spiritual leader. A meeting between a representative of Tibet’s spiritual leader and a high-ranking US official, such as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is an indicator of new US policies and attitudes regarding China and US-China ties.

Following the increased worldwide condemnation of China’s human rights record, particularly from the United States, the CTA and Tibetan advocacy groups have seen a surge in international assistance in recent months. Lobsang Sangay, the former head of the Tibetan government in exile, paid his first visit to the White House in six decades in November. A month later, the US Congress passed the Tibet Policy and Support Act, which asks for Tibetans to be able to choose the Dalai Lama’s successor and the creation of a US consulate in Lhasa.

Recently, Antony Blinken participated in the International Religious Freedom Summit, where he discussed the U.S. commitment to promote and defend religious freedom around the world for all. “Freedom of religion or belief is a human right,” U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken.

Since His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama met then-President Barack Obama in Washington in 2016, Mr. Blinken’s meeting with Dongchung is the most significant encounter with the Tibetan leadership. A request for comment from China’s foreign ministry was not immediately returned. Tibet is a part of China, according to Beijing, and the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist.

Mr. Blinken met with his Indian counterpart, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, and other officials on Wednesday before traveling to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first visit to India since joining US President Joe Biden’s cabinet. Before Mr. Blinken’s visit, Indian foreign ministry sources said the country was proud of its pluralistic heritage and eager to discuss the matter with him. Mr. Blinken arrived in India on Tuesday night and will depart for Kuwait on Wednesday afternoon.

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