Dear John,

China is feeling our pressure. And they’re taking new countermeasures against the US government’s push for reciprocity.

Since the adoption of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act (RATA) last year, the US government has adopted “reciprocity” as a guiding principle in its diplomatic relations with China. Together, we’ve made a real change to pressure China to end its restrictions on access to Tibet—and your support can help us take another step forward.

Last week, US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback announced at our ICT office in Washington, DC that RATA will be fully implemented this month. As a result, Chinese officials will be denied access to the United States in response to the unfair restrictions posed on all American citizens wishing to travel to Tibet.

At the same time, restrictions on US diplomats in China were just announced, requiring them to inform the Chinese foreign ministry before any meetings with local officials. China’s own government framed this as a “countermeasure” to human rights legislation, like the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, urging the United States to “revoke the relevant rules.”

But we will not be silent in the face of China’s systematic discrimination against the Tibetan people and disregard for internationally accepted norms such as reciprocity—and we hope you’ll support us with a matched donation.

China already imposes harsher restrictions on US diplomats and citizens than the other way around. The difference is that the US is calling out human rights violations in Tibet and elsewhere—thanks to supporters like you who have helped raise the issue—so China is striking back.

Of course, our end goal is not to punish Chinese officials; it’s to save Tibet, by putting China’s policies under strong scrutiny. But to do this, we need to make their government feel the pressure of international Tibet supporters like you who will not accept their brutal oppression of the Tibetan people. As fiercely as China defends their censorship and discrimination, we need to stand against it, with righteous determination and moral compass.

Tibetans are counting on you, John, to not back down. Make a matched donation today and make twice the difference in our advocacy for Tibet.

Sixty years ago, His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled China’s invasion of Tibet. Now, China’s government has come for Uyghurs and the people of Hong Kong.

It has to stop. Donate today to support our work to stand up for human rights in Tibet.

In solidarity,

Matteo Mecacci
President

P.S. The Tibetan people need your support, and this is the best time. Your gift will be matched by Richard Gere and friends up to $250,000—but only if you stand up and donate before December 31st.