China has accused the United States of supporting Tibetan independence after Washington reiterated its support for the Tibetan people’s right to preserve their culture and identity and called for renewed dialogue to resolve the long-running Sino-Tibetan dispute.
The dispute intensified after the US State Department issued a statement on July 8 expressing support for Tibetan cultural, linguistic and religious aspirations while urging China to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan representatives. The statement came days after a Tibetan activist, 52-year-old Lobga Rangzen, died following a self-immolation protest outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
China’s Foreign Ministry responded on July 9 by accusing the United States of interfering in its internal affairs. According to China’s official China Daily, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said issues concerning what Beijing refers to as “Xizang” were purely domestic matters and that no foreign country had the right to intervene.
“We urge the US side to abide by its commitment of recognizing Xizang as part of China and not supporting ‘Xizang independence’, and to stop using Xizang-related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs,” Mao was quoted as saying.
The US statement did not specifically mention Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation but reiterated Washington’s support for Tibetans’ aspirations to preserve their culture while calling on China to return to dialogue to address the dispute. The statement said the United States remained committed to supporting the human rights and aspirations of Tibetans to preserve their unique culture, language and religion without interference.
It also called for direct dialogue without preconditions between China, the Dalai Lama and Tibetan representatives, as well as democratically elected Tibetan leaders, to seek a resolution and achieve meaningful autonomy for Tibetans.
Before his death, Lobga Rangzen, whose real name was Lobsang Palden, left a message urging Tibetans in exile to unite in the fight for independence. The message criticized Chinese rule in Tibet and warned against the destruction of Tibetan identity.
China did not directly address the self-immolation while responding to questions about the incident, instead repeating its position that Tibet has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times and saying relevant countries would handle the matter according to domestic laws, Reuters reported.
The controversy has also drawn attention in Europe, with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot stating that China had no role in determining the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader. Prévot made the remarks before Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Committee in response to questions from parliament member Els Van Hoof.
Prévot said the succession of the Dalai Lama was a matter for the Tibetan community and should take place without interference from secular authorities. He also expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet, including issues related to freedom of religion and cultural rights following China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law.
The Belgian minister said his government had raised Tibet-related concerns during discussions with Chinese authorities, including during his visit to China in April 2026 and bilateral political consultations held earlier. He added that Belgium had also raised issues related to Tibetan cultural identity during the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of China in 2024.
The latest developments follow renewed international attention on Tibet as communities around the world marked the Dalai Lama’s 91st birthday on July 6. Various local governments and lawmakers in the United States issued messages recognizing his contributions to peace and human values while expressing support for Tibetan cultural preservation.
Lobga Rangzen’s death marked the first reported Tibetan protest self-immolation on US soil. Tibetan activists have carried out nearly 160 such protests since 2009, with the majority occurring inside Tibet.
