Washington DC — Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration is holding official talks with US official and key members of the U.S. Congress, seeking their support in the face of recent US budget cuts to Tibetan programs in exile. He also addressed Tibetans in the U.S, saying: "As one of two key components of the Middle Way Approach, it is vital that we bolster our efforts to assert Tibet’s historical independence as a foundation for our political legitimacy.”
Sikyong Penpa Tsering began his official engagement on April 29, 2025, meeting with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Representative Michael McCaul, Representative Brian Mast, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, Senator Paul Grove, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Lindsey Graham, Representative Gregory Meeks, Senator Ted Cruz, Representative Joe Wilson, Elliott Abrams and other senior U.S. officials until May 8, 2025.
Sikyong explained to key members of the US Congress about the Chinese Communist Party's systematically eliminating Tibetan identity, language, religion and culture. He also urged them to appoint a Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, so that he or she could play a greater role in resolving these issues more effectively.
Sikyong also stressed the impact of recent U.S. budget cuts on Tibetan programs in exile. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for stepping in to support during this pause, but emphasised that continued gaps in U.S. assistance would risk undermining decades of progress and how a pause in U.S. support benefits China directly.
Sikyong said, "Despite the uncertainty surrounding the restoration of support that was suspended following the termination of USAID programs globally, our Kashag is making every effort to revive some of these forms of assistance. Our efforts are also directed toward exploring all possible avenues to reinstate services such as VOA and RFA, which are essential in keeping our fellow Tibetans informed on important issues that are otherwise inaccessible within Tibet."
Sikyong invited the members of the U.S. Congress to the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on July 6, 2025. Sikyong presented them with a signed copy of Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle With China for My Land and My People by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as a gesture of appreciation. Sikyong also proposed the introduction of a congressional resolution to honour the global legacy of His Holiness on the occasion of his forthcoming 90th birth anniversary.
Sikyong also addressed Tibetans in Washington DC, particularly young people. He spoke about the current conflict between Tibet and China, stressing that the Middle Way Approach offers the best way to achieve a mutually beneficial political solution. However, Sikyong stressed that “of the two key components of this policy, it is vital that we strengthen our efforts to assert Tibet's historic independence as the foundation of our political legitimacy”.
Sikyong, accompanied by Representative Namgyal Choedup of the Office of Tibet in Washington, D.C., and Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, as well as other staff members at these official engagements.
