Dharamshala — The bipartisan US delegation met His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, at his residence in Dharamsala, on Wednesday. Brian Mast, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee said," Meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama is something, I will never forget, we dicussed numbers of things, certainly China was among top issue, freedom of Tibetan people."
The bipartisan US delegation met His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, at his residence in Dharamsala, on September 30, 2026. The delegation, led by Brian Mast, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, and accompanied by James Gallagher (Republican–California), Jimmy Patronis (Republican–Florida), Haley Stevens (Democrat–Michigan), and Shri Thanedar (Democrat–Michigan). They were accompanied by Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Representative Jigme Tsering of the New Delhi-based Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Brian Mast said: “This meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a moment I will never forget. We discussed many topics, including, of course, China and the freedom of the Tibetan people.”
Regarding China's Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress, he stated: “Through this law, China is extending its influence beyond its borders, spreading its reach to every country in the world and monitoring populations; it is sending spies and police officers to various countries, and cracking down on people it does not want to see. We are different from China: we believe in freedom, in democracy for all, and in the fact that individuals are born with certain rights which the government must not suppress, but protect.”
Mast said: “The US House of Representatives stands firmly alongside the Tibetan and Uyghur peoples in the face of the repressive measures taken against them by the Chinese government. We commend the commitment shown by so many people to the cause of freedom in Tibet.”
When asked about China’s interference in the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, he replied: ‘This is nothing new. China has previously abducted lama (11th Panchen Lama) recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and these people have not been heard from since. What is happening now is that China is likely attempting to forcibly appoint a reincarnation of its choosing, a move that is contrary to the wishes of both the Tibetan people and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This comes as no surprise, as I believe China will stop at nothing to achieve its goal of oppressing the Tibetan people.”
“China is not acting in a friendly manner towards the United States of America. It is stealing our intellectual property. It is stealing computer equipment from the United States of America. The scale of its espionage activities against us is constant,” he concluded.
Haley Stevens (a Democratic MP) from the State of Michigan said: “We are here to visit His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to stand up for democracy and freedom. We support the oppressed peoples who are marginalised by a cruel government. We must denounce the actions of this government. The Chinese Communist Party must allow the Tibetan people to return to their homeland (Tibet), a people who are among the most peaceful and benevolent and who, like the United States of America, defend democracy and freedom. We see this happening all over the world. That is why I join you here with enthusiasm, optimism and dedication, to fight against artificial intelligence, propaganda and the exploitation of data.”
A bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress, led by Representative Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, received a warm welcome from the Central Tibetan Administration upon its arrival at Kangra Airport on September 29, 2026. The delegation was received by Tsegyal Choekya Dranyi, officiating Sikyong and Kalon of the Department of Religion and Culture; Tashi Gyatso Shadrong, Cabinet Secretary; Jigme Tsering, Representative of the New Delhi-based Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; and Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, Joint Secretary, and Ngawang Choedhar, Protocol Officer, of the Department of Information and International Relations-CTA.
During their visit, the delegation toured the Tibet Museum of the Central Tibetan Administration, accompanied by Sikyong Penpa Tsering. In the evening, the 17th Kashag hosted a welcome dinner in their honour in Dharamshala, attended by members of the Central Tibetan Administration leadership.
