Washington, D.C.: In what could be a pivotal moment for Tibet, U.S. lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties have supported the 'Resolution of the Tibet-China Dispute Act.' If passed into law, this bill would challenge Beijing's claim over Tibet and establish a mechanism to counter Chinese disinformation on Tibet’s history, people, and institutions, according to the South China Morning Post.

The U.S. Senate had already passed the bill in May, identifying Tibet not just as the Tibet Autonomous Region but also including Tibetan areas in the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan.

This marks the first significant step by U.S. lawmakers against China’s annexation of Tibet, which has been under Chinese control for over 73 years. The move comes as Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is scheduled to visit the U.S. for medical treatment.

The proposed legislation is expected to further strain already tense relations between the U.S. and China. These tensions are heightened by the ongoing trade war and U.S. involvement in the Taiwan Strait. The bill aims to garner international support for Tibetans, highlighting China’s repressive policies against their language, culture, and religion.

In a similar move, Canada’s House of Commons recently passed a motion acknowledging Tibetan self-rule determination. The motion recognized Tibetans as "a people and a nation" with the inherent right to determine their social, economic, cultural, and religious policies, including selecting the next Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan cause is also gaining traction in Europe. In recent European Parliament elections, 115 candidates from 16 European Union countries committed to defending the fundamental freedoms of the Tibetan people.

A recent Human Rights Watch report highlighted that since 2016, Chinese authorities have relocated 500 villages in Tibet, affecting 140,000 residents, in violation of international law. Since 2000, more than 930,000 Tibetans in rural areas have been relocated, with 76% of these relocations occurring since 2016.

China justifies these relocations by claiming they are necessary to eradicate poverty and protect the ecological environment. However, the UN Special Rapporteurs have accused China of forcibly placing one million Tibetan children in boarding schools to assimilate them into Han Chinese culture.

The UN experts warned of a policy of forced assimilation of Tibetan identity through oppressive actions against Tibetan educational, religious, and linguistic institutions. China’s Foreign Ministry, however, defended the boarding schools, stating logistical difficulties in providing education in remote areas.

For years, China has attempted to undermine the Dalai Lama’s influence, branding him a "separatist" and "wolf in monk’s robes." Despite these efforts, the Dalai Lama remains a revered figure, known for his commitment to nonviolence and efforts to gain freedom for Tibet.

China’s surveillance and data collection on Tibetans have intensified as the country’s economy falters and President Xi Jinping’s grip on power faces challenges. The renewed Western push on Tibet’s human rights violations is expected to further pressure China. How Beijing will respond to this increased international scrutiny remains to be seen.