中央社报导，21日，美国参、众两院表决通过2.3兆美元的2021财政年度拨款法案，其中除了纳入9000亿美元疫情经济纾困方案，也囊括不少其他法案，包含“西藏政策及支援法案”（Tibetan Policy and Support Act），以及要求美国行政部门检视中国在新疆作为的条文。

根据美国立法程序，法案获国会两院通过后，即能送交总统签署。总统有10天时间考虑签署法案或提出反对，若什么都不做，法案即在10天后自动生效。

美国国会及行政部门中国问题委员会（CECC）主席麦戈文（Jim McGovern，麦高文）与共同主席鲁比奥（Marco Rubio，卢比欧）22日共同发布新闻稿，欢迎国会通过“西藏政策及支援法案”。

“西藏政策及支援法案”是由麦戈文与鲁比奥于去年9月相继在众院与参院提出，主要目的是更新及增强2002年的“西藏政策法”（Tibetan Policy Act of 2002）。

根据法案，若中国干预达赖喇嘛继任者的辨识或转世程序，将被视为违反藏人宗教自由，美方能对相关涉入的中共官员采取经济、签证制裁措施。法案也规定，在美国能够于西藏首府拉萨设立领事机构之前，中共不得在美设立新的领事机构。

此外，2021财政年度拨款法案也包含新疆相关条文。条文要求美国国务卿在法案生效90天内，认定迫害维吾尔族、哈萨克族、吉尔吉斯坦人与新疆其他穆斯林少数族群的行径，是否构成“暴行”。

麦戈文表示，法案重申美国对人权的重视，也展现美方在乎那些受压迫的人们，也与那些为自由奋斗的人士站在一起。他说：“法案的通过确立在未来很长一段时间，美国人民都会作为藏人的坚定伙伴。”

鲁比奥则指出，法案的通过向外界传递一项重要讯息，那就是美国与藏人站在一起，对抗试图干预西藏宗教领袖认定程序的中国。他强调，美方应持续揭露北京当局对藏人宗教、文化与语言的严重攻击。

针对2021财政年度拨款法案囊括新疆相关条文一事，鲁比奥表示，越来越多证据显示，中共在新疆对维族与其他穆斯林少数族群犯下骇人与系统性人权侵犯作为。他呼吁：“美国政府是时候清楚检视证据，并正式做出暴行认定。”

民主党籍参议员默克利（Jeff Merkley）则说，北京持续在新疆犯下“危害人类罪”，美国面对此暴行不能静默，“我们现在必须持续奋斗，并竭尽所能向中共为其骇人作为究责”。

Annual U.S. Congressional Appropriations Include Tibet Bill and Pro-Xinjiang Provisions

People walk past the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16, 2020. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Congress passed a $2.3 trillion fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill on Dec. 21 that includes the Tibet Policy and Support Act and a provision requiring the executive branch to review China's actions in Xinjiang. Members of Congress across party lines today praised the congressional action and pledged to do everything possible to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable.


The Central News Agency reported that on the 21st, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voted to pass the $2.3 trillion FY 2021 appropriations bill, which includes not only the $900 billion epidemic economic relief package, but also many other bills, including the "Tibetan Policy and Support Act" (TPSA) and the bill requiring the U.S. executive branch to review China's actions in Xinjiang. Support Act, and provisions requiring the U.S. executive branch to review China's actions in Xinjiang.

Under the U.S. legislative process, a bill can be sent to the President for signature once it has been passed by both houses of Congress. The President has 10 days to consider signing the bill or objecting to it, and if nothing is done, the bill automatically takes effect after 10 days.

Congress and the Executive Branch Committee on China (CECC) Chairman Jim McGovern and Co-Chairman Marco Rubio jointly issued a press release on 22 February welcoming the passage of the Tibet Policy and Support Act.

"The "Tibet Policy and Support Act" was introduced by McGovern and Rubio in the House and Senate last September to update and strengthen the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002.

According to the bill, if China interferes with the identification or reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama's successor, it would be considered a violation of Tibetan religious freedom, and the U.S. would be able to impose economic and visa sanctions on the Chinese officials involved. The bill also provides that the Chinese Communist Party may not establish a new consular office in the United States until the United States is able to establish a consular presence in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

In addition, the FY 2021 appropriations bill also contains provisions related to Xinjiang. The provisions require the Secretary of State to determine whether the persecution of Uighurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang constitutes an "atrocity" within 90 days of the bill's effective date.

McGovern said the bill reaffirms the importance the United States places on human rights and demonstrates that the United States cares about those who are oppressed and stands with those who fight for freedom. He said, "The passage of the bill establishes that the American people will be a strong partner of Tibetans for a long time to come."

Rubio noted that the passage of the bill sends an important message that the United States stands with Tibetans against China, which is trying to interfere with the process of identifying Tibetan religious leaders. He stressed that the U.S. should continue to expose the serious attacks on Tibetan religion, culture and language by Beijing authorities.

In response to the inclusion of Xinjiang-related provisions in the FY 2021 appropriations bill, Rubio said there is growing evidence that the Chinese Communist Party is committing horrific and systematic human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. He called on "the U.S. government to take a clear look at the evidence and make a formal determination of atrocities."

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley (D-N.Y.) said that the United States cannot remain silent in the face of Beijing's ongoing "crimes against humanity" in Xinjiang, and that "we must continue to fight now and do everything we can to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its horrific actions.