DHARAMSHALA, June 23: The prominent and influential US Senator from California, Dianne Feinstein, has asked the Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times to retract its editorial threatening the University of California San Diego and Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, calling it unconscionable.
In a statement, Senator Feinstein said, “I find it unconscionable that a reporter for the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, would threaten UC San Diego and its chancellor and students for inviting the Dalai Lama to speak.”
She added, “The newspaper should immediately apologize and retract the article that not only threatens to withhold visas from Chancellor Pradeep Khosla but also suggests the university would be punished by withholding students.”
The Global Times, in an editorial on June 20, 2017, criticized UC San Diego for inviting the Dalai Lama to give its commencement address on June 17, 2017. It threatened the University Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, saying: “Khosla must bear the consequences for this.“ Global Times editorial suggested that China should “not issue visas to the chancellor and not recognize diplomas or degree certificates issued by the university in China.”
The International Campaign for Tibet also issued a statement on June 21, 2017 condemning China’s threat of retaliation against an American university and its Chancellor.
Senator Feinstein further added that Global Times’ portrayal of the Dalai Lama was patently false. She said, “I’ve known the Dalai Lama for more than 25 years and was directly involved in the latest discussions between him and the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama doesn’t wish to separate Tibet from China. Rather, he strives for greater autonomy so Tibetans may freely practice their faith.”
