SENATE PASSES BILL TO COUNTER CHINA; INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR TIBETANS
A bipartisan bill passed in the Senate to boost competitiveness with China and further US tech investments also included new policies in support of Tibet. The Innovation and Competition Act, passed on Tuesday with a majority of 68-32 votes, outlined several provisions that would increase US support of Tibet and oppose China’s interference in the Dalai Lama’s succession, according to Phayul. Under sections 3306 and 3307 of the bill, the position of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues must be appointed by the president, with advice and consent of the Senate, or the individual must already hold the rank of Under Secretary of State or higher. In recognition of the need for diplomatic support for Tibet, the bill also requires a Tibet unit within the US Embassy in Beijing until the US consulate in Chengdu is restored. Building on the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020, the new bill reaffirms US opposition toward China for violating Tibet’s religious freedom by asserting that it must approve the Dalai Lama’s successor. Chinese officials will face sanctions if they attempt to interfere in the identification of the next Dalai Lama, according to the International Campaign for Tibet.
The bill also addresses human rights concerns in China, calling for sanctions regarding China’s genocide of Muslim Uyghurs and banning US officials from attending the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. President Joe Biden said in a statement, “I look forward to working with the House of Representatives on this important bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to signing it into law as soon as possible.”
STUDENTS CAN NOW EARN A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN BUDDHIST TRANSLATION IN THE US
For the first time, students in the US will be able to earn a graduate certificate in Buddhist translation at Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) in Northern California. The university, which is dedicated to liberal education in the broad Buddhist tradition, recently launched the first graduate certificate program in Buddhist translation after ten students completed a successful two-year pilot of the one-year program. According to DRBU, the two-semester certificate program “integrates translation of Buddhist texts with study, practice, and service in a monastic setting.” The university’s Buddhist translation program was established in the spirit of its founder, Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, a Chinese Buddhist master who vowed to bring the Buddha’s original teachings to the West and support Buddhist translation through the establishment of schools and religious training programs. More information about the program and how to apply can be found on DRBU’s website.
Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/aung-san-suu-kyi-myanmar-junta/
