US appoints special officer for Tibet,China sees red

US has appointed a separate official to oversee Tibetan affairs. Robert Destro will be the special coordinator for Tibetan issues. Reacting sharply, Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing will not allow foreign interference in its internal affairs.China on Thursday accused the US of trying to destabilise Tibet. “Setting up of the so-called special coordinator for Tibetan issues is entirely out of political manipulation to interfere in China’s internal affairs and destabilise Tibet,” said ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

“People of ethnic groups in Tibet are part of the big family of Chinese nation. Since its peaceful liberation, Tibet enjoyed prosperous economic growth, harmonious civil society, and prosperous culture. People enjoyed solidarity and mutual assistance and improved livelihood. All people in Tibet enjoy their full religious freedoms and their rights are fully respected and guaranteed. We believe Tibet’s future will be better,” Zhao added. The US should stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of Tibet or destabilising it.“China will take all necessary measures to uphold our interests,” he said.

The US secretary of state Michael Pompeo said that the US remains concerned with China’s “repression of the Tibetan community, including the lack of meaningful autonomy, the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas, and severe restrictions on Tibetans’ religious freedom and cultural traditions within China,” Meanwhile in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), top officials defended their labour practices in the remote region in the backdrop of growing concerns about rights abuses.