The Trump administration has appointed a senior official to oversee Tibetan issues after a vacancy for almost four years, as the U.S. increases pressure on China over its human rights record, including the use of forced labor among ethnic minorities.
Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Wednesday named Robert Destro as the U.S.’s new Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. Destro will primarily be responsible for advancing dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama and protecting the religious, cultural and linguistic identity of Tibetans, according to the State Department.
"The United States remains concerned with the PRC’s repression of the Tibetan community, including the lack of meaningful autonomy, the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas, and severe restrictions on Tibetans’ religious freedom and cultural traditions within China,” Pompeo said in a statement, referring to the People’s Republic of China.