U.S. Congress And The "Tibet Problem" In Sino-American Relations (1987-2007)

The Tibet problem is an important factor which affects on the healthy development of Sino-US relations. The United States Congress has gradually become the most active branch which interferes in Tibetan affairs since 1987. Based on the Congresstional records and other documents files, this dissertation tries to analyse historical course of which the U.S. Congress interfered in Tibetan affairs by legislative actions and other means during year of 1987-2007, and reveal impacts on U.S. policy towards Tibet and Sino-U.S. relations in that process.In addition to the preface and conclusion, this dissertation includes four chapters as follows:Chapter I analyses the origin of the U.S.Congress's interference in Tibet problem. Each U.S. Government's Tibetan policy since modern history has laid the foundation for the Congress's involvement into Tibetan affairs. From Tibet rebels to Lhasa chaos, the U.S.Congress's intervention in Tibetan affairs was further intensified, namely, the individual congressman's to aid to Dalai clique's separatist activities had evolved into direct interference in China's internal affairs by the means of human rights of Tibet.Chapter II focuses on U.S Congress's early legislations about Tibet during 100-101st Congress. With the beginning of H.R.2476, the U.S Congress started meddling Tibetan affairs by legislation,whose aim was to link the United States policy towards China and the Tibet problem. The main content of its legislation comprises sanctions against China by the excuse of Tibetan human rights and assistance to the Dalai clique. During this process, the American media played a role in adding fuel to the flames.Chapter III expounds the U.S. Congress's legislation about Tibet after the Cold War.By the impulse of new interventionism thinking, U.S. Congress's interference in the Tibet problem exceeded the elder Bush administration in breadth and depth.It had made a series of Tibetan bills to intervene Tibet affairs in the MFN issue, the status of Tibet and Tibetan human rights,etc.Chapter IV discusses the U.S. Congress's interference in Tibet problem at the turn of the Century, which takes on some new characters in normalization and mechanism. The making of Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 is a landmark which indicates that the U.S. Congress's legislation on Tibet problem has entered into a new phase.The conclusion analyses the essential reasons why the Congress interferes in the Tibetan affairs,including manifest destiny,ideology,national interests and the congressman himself. The U.S.Congress makes use of legislative power, appropriation power, hearings and other ways,which exert important influnce upon U.S. Tibetan policy,and impact negatively on Sino-US relations.It dose not only make the United States censure Tibetan human rights unremittingly, but also contributes greatly to Dalai clique's separatist activities abroad.