Tibet has been a neighbor of China for 700 years. During most of that time it has acted as a de facto state, maintaining a separate culture and identity. These two countries peacefully coexisted for 650 years until Mao's army annexed and occupied Tibet in 1951. During the next 25 years, more than 1.2 million Tibetans were killed during the reforms of China's Cultural Revolution. The Dali Lama and the Tibetan government are currently in exile in India, along with some 10,000 Tibetans. Tibetans say the Chinese government has committed cultural genocide while attempting to assimilate Tibet under its “One China” policy. Several years ago, China constructed a railway system linking the rest of China with the frozen Tibetan plateau. Critics say this was done to strengthen its political control over Tibet and to marginalize native Tibetans by encouraging further Han migration from the rest of China. Since 2010, more than 160 Tibetans have chosen self-immolation as a way to protest against, and draw attention to, the abuses of Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama has long denied China's assertion that he's seeking Tibetan independence. He says Tibet wants only enough autonomy to protect its traditional Buddhist culture.

Pending Legislation: H.R.4281 - Tibet Independence Act
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Perry (PA)
Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
House Speaker: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA)