The Dalai Lama arrived in New York on the 23rd, waving from the window of his limousine as he headed to his Manhattan hotel. Around the hotel, a crowd of over 10,000 well-wishers had gathered hours earlier, eager to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Assisted by his entourage, the Dalai Lama slowly walked to the entrance after stepping out of the car.
According to his team, the Dalai Lama is visiting the United States for his knee treatment. He has been receiving treatment for his knee for several years, but specific details about his condition have not been disclosed. His knee pain is believed to be due to osteoarthritis from aging. While it doesn’t interfere with his daily life, it makes long-distance travel difficult. The Dalai Lama had a health check-up at the Mayo Clinic in New York in June 2017.
The Dalai Lama’s visit comes at a time when the issue regarding Tibet is reigniting tensions between the United States and China. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Tibet-China Conflict Act, which denies China’s claim that Tibet has long been part of its territory and includes provisions for supporting counter-propaganda against China’s claims about Tibet.
A bipartisan congressional delegation, including House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visited Dharamsala, India on the 19th. They met with the Dalai Lama and explained the purpose of the act to the locals.
Given these circumstances, there is keen interest in whether the Dalai Lama will meet with U.S. political figures, including President Joe Biden. While he has met with U.S. presidents during previous visits, he has not yet met with Biden, who took office in 2021.
The Chinese government has strongly protested the Dalai Lama’s visit. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “The Dalai Lama is not just a religious figure, but a political exile who engages in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion.” He urged the U.S. to fully recognize the essence of anti-China separatism and stop sending wrong signals on Tibet-related issues.
Tibetan Buddhism has a long tradition of finding a reincarnated boy after the Dalai Lama’s death to become the successor. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th and was enthroned in 1940. After a failed independence uprising in 1959, he moved to Dharamsala and established the Tibetan government-in-exile, continuing the nonviolent independence movement.
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