US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appoints a special coordinator for Tibetan issues to protect linguistic, cultural and religious heritage under Chinese rule.
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has appointed a special envoy to promote the protection of Tibetans living under Chinese rule.
Rubio announced that Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Riley Barnes will serve as the US special coordinator for Tibetan issues.
“The United States remains committed to supporting the unalienable rights of Tibetans and their distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage,” Rubio said in a message for Losar, the Tibetan New Year.
The appointment marks a rare return under the Trump administration to championing human rights.
A top priority for US policymakers is defending Tibetan religious rituals for selecting a reincarnation for the Dalai Lama.
Officials fear China will seek to identify and groom a compliant successor to the charismatic 90-year-old, who advocates for greater Tibetan rights.
The special coordinator position is mandated by an act of Congress passed in 2002.
Successive administrations have designated senior officials to serve concurrently in the role, although President Donald Trump in his first term waited months before making an appointment.
Rubio, as a senator, was known for his staunch advocacy of human rights in China.
He led an effort to support the Uyghur minority with a law banning imports from Xinjiang unless certified free of forced labor.
Since becoming the top US diplomat, Rubio has narrowed the focus on human rights.
He uses the issue as a cudgel against adversaries while mostly refraining from criticising Trump’s partners.
Trump has focused heavily on trade in his relationship with China, which he plans to visit in April.
Rubio, speaking in Hungary, noted China has the second largest economy and nuclear weapons.
He said it would be “insane for United States and China not to have relations and interact with one another.”
The Sun Malaysia
