Dear John,

An FBI investigation has uncovered evidence of China spying on Tibetan Americans. And when you dig into the case, you’ll see why your support for a new law on Tibet is so important.

As you might have seen in the news, Baimadajie Angwang, a New York City police officer, and US Army reservist, was arrested this week and accused of surveilling local Tibetans for a handler in the Chinese consulate. He also allegedly tried to recruit Tibetans in the community to work for China.

Tibetan exiles have known for years that China is spying on them, even here in the United States. But this case has confirmed something else, too. According to the indictment, Angwang’s handler told him that his Tibetan ethnicity prevents him from getting a long-term visa to China, admitting that China discriminates against Tibetan Americans. The handler even suggested Angwang should change his ethnicity on official documents to avoid discrimination.

This affirms what ICT has been reporting for years: China uses anti-Tibetan and anti-Tibetan American policy as leverage to stop dissent in the US.

That brazen racism is a big reason why ICT members supported the passage of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act (RATA). And thanks to your advocacy, a major piece of RATA was put into law this year. In a move by the State Department in July, for the first time ever, the Chinese officials responsible for blocking access of Americans to Tibet are banned from coming to the US.

Now, our community of compassion must do the same thing with the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA). This bill will deliver another blow to China’s persecution of the Tibetan people by making it official US policy that China has no right to interfere in the succession of the Dalai Lama—among other pro-Tibet policies.

If you have not signed on to ICT’s petition calling on the Senate to pass the TPSA, please add your name now!

The charges against Angwang are disturbing, and the notion that China’s government has infiltrated institutions that are supposed to protect American citizens is alarming. But the case is also proof that the US is ready to fight back against China’s polices on Tibet—and that our work for the Tibetan cause is on the right track.

Our advocacy for Tibetans is laying down the law with the Chinese government. Help us pass the TPSA today.

If you’ve already signed our petition, thank you so much for your support. Please consider backing up your action with a gift to further ICT’s crucial advocacy to make the TPSA law. And if you’re not based in the US, please share this campaign with family and friends who are.

Together, we are having an impact.

In solidarity,

Matteo Mecacci
President

P.S. In case you didn’t see it, ICT was quoted by the AP, The New York Times, The Daily Beast and several others about Angwang’s arrest and what it means for Tibet. We’re a trusted voice speaking up for the rights of the Tibetan people—but only because we have the support of members like you. Please consider making a gift to ICT today and help us continue to speak out for Tibet.