US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on October 15 named senior diplomat Destro as Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues, who, among other matters, would focus on advancing dialogue between the government in China and the Dalai Lama.
Announcing Destro's appointment, Pompeo said it was consistent with the Tibetan Policy Act and he will lead the US efforts to promote dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives; protect the unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity of Tibetans; and press for their human rights to be respected.
China has criticized Destro's appointment, saying it amounted to political manipulation aimed at destabilizing Tibet. Asked about the Destro-Sangay meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing: "Xizang's (Tibet's) affairs (are) purely China's internal affairs. No external forces shall interfere in them".
Unlike in the past, the Chinese officials in recent times have been referring to Tibet only as Xizang. "Appointing the so-called special coordinator for Tibetan issues is a political move to interfere in China's internal affairs and sabotage Xizang's stability. It is China's consistent position we firmly oppose that and we will not acknowledge that. We have lodged stern representation to the US side," he added.
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