U.S. urges China to preserve cultural religious identity of Tibet
La Prensa, 13 November 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (China), on November 12, 2014. EFE/How Hwee Young
Beijing (EFE) – The U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged the Chinese authorities to “take steps to preserve the unique cultural, religious & linguistic identity” of Tibetan people, although he recognized Tibet as part China.
“We are not in favor of Tibet’s independence,” Obama said in a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The U.S. president said that the nations who protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities are the most prosperous and successful societies, and are also most capable of complying with rights of the people.
Obama also commented about the controversial topic of pro-democracy Hong Kong protests and industrial cyberespionage asking the communist authorities to respect the intellectual property.
The U.S. leader also exchanged points of view regarding respect for human rights with his Chinese counterpart, according to whom, China has evolved a lot in that aspect.
China blames terrorist groups for violent incidents in Tibet and Xinjiang, home to Uyghur ethnic minority, while Tibetans and Uyghurs accuse the repression by Beijing at all levels.
Nine human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, signed a letter in late October urging Obama to consider the hostile attitude by the Chinese government of civil society as a barrier to their bilateral relations during his visit to China.