U.S. names Tibet coordinator, drawing warning from China

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The United States yesterday named Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya as special coordinator for Tibet, drawing a warning from China to stay out of its internal affairs.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Zeya, who is responsible for democracy and human rights, would lead U.S. efforts to preserve the Chinese-ruled territory's religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage in the face of human rights abuses by Beijing.

Beijing has consistently refused to deal with a U.S. coordinator on Tibet and China's Washington embassy on Monday denounced the move as "political manipulation."

"The U.S. should stop interfering in China's internal affairs or destabilizing Tibet under the pretext of Tibetrelated issues. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard our interests," embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said in an email, without elaborating.

Blinken said Zeya would also seek to promote dialogue between China and Tibet's spiritual leader in exile, the Dalai Lama, or democratically elected Tibetan leaders.

"She will lead U.S. efforts to preserve the religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage of Tibetans who are facing human rights abuses and challenges to their livelihoods and environment," Blinken said in a tweet.

China reacted angrily last year and accused the United States of seeking to destabilize Tibet after the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Zeya's predecessor to the same role.

U.S.-China relations have been at their lowest point in decades over a range of issues, including trade, Taiwan, human rights, the South China Sea and the coronavirus.