I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1112 
To promote access for United States officials, journalists, and other citizens 
to Tibetan areas of the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2015 
Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mr. PITTS, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Ms. 
TSONGAS, Mr. ELLISON, and Mr. MARINO) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To promote access for United States officials, journalists, 
and other citizens to Tibetan areas of the People’s Re-
public of China, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reciprocal Access to 
Tibet Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) The Chinese Government does not grant 
United States officials, journalists, and other citi-
zens access to the People’s Republic of China on a 
reciprocal basis to the access the United States Gov-
ernment grants Chinese officials, journalists, and 
citizens. 
(2) The Chinese Government imposes greater 
restrictions on travel to Tibetan areas than to other 
areas of the People’s Republic of China. 
(3) Officials of the People’s Republic of China 
have stated that Tibet is open to foreign visitors. 
(4) The Chinese Government is promoting tour-
ism in Tibetan areas, and has announced plans to 
make tourism a ‘‘pillar industry’’ for the region. 
(5) The Chinese Government requires for-
eigners to obtain permission from the Tibet Foreign 
and Overseas Affairs Office or from the Tibet Tour-
ism Bureau to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region, 
a restriction that is not imposed on travel to any 
other provincial-level jurisdiction in the People’s Re-
public of China. 
(6) The Department of State reports that the 
Tibet Foreign and Overseas Affairs Office denied 
more than 10 requests for United States diplomatic 
access to the Tibet Autonomous Region between 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
May 2011 and December 2012, and that when such 
requests are granted, diplomatic personnel are close-
ly supervised and given few opportunities to meet 
local residents not approved by authorities. 
(7) The Chinese Government restricted United 
States consular access after an October 28, 2013, 
bus crash in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in which 
at least two Americans died and more than a dozen 
others, all from Walnut, California, were injured. 
(8) The Chinese Government has failed to re-
spond positively to the United States Government’s 
request to open a consulate in Lhasa, Tibet Autono-
mous Region. 
(9) The Department of State reports that the 
Chinese government regularly denies requests by 
American diplomats, foreign journalists, and observ-
ers to visit Tibetan areas, and that those permitted 
to visit are subject to ‘‘highly structured, govern-
ment-organized tours’’ that limit independent, objec-
tive reporting. 
(10) The Department of State reports that for-
eign diplomats who were permitted to travel in Ti-
betan areas outside the Tibet Autonomous Region 
were ‘‘repeatedly approached by local police and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
sometimes forced to leave without reasonable expla-
nation’’. 
(11) The Department of State reports that per-
mission is not always granted to foreign tourists, 
and that when granted, Lhasa, Rikaze (Shigatse), 
and Shannan (Lhoka) are usually the only places in 
the Tibet Autonomous Region open to foreigners. 
(12) Foreign visitors also face restrictions in 
their ability to travel freely in Tibetan areas outside 
the Tibet Autonomous Region. 
(13) Foreign visitors to Tibetan areas are ex-
plicitly limited to tours that are tightly managed by 
authorities. 
(14) Restrictions on journalists’ access to Ti-
betan areas conflict with government regulations, 
adopted in 2008, lifting requirements that foreign 
journalists get permission of local authorities to 
travel in the country and interview Chinese citizens. 
(15) The United States Government generally 
allows journalists and other citizens of the People’s 
Republic of China to travel freely within the United 
States. The United States Government requires Chi-
nese diplomats to notify the Department of State of 
their travel plans, and in certain situations, the 
United States Government requires Chinese dip-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
lomats to obtain approval from the Department of 
State before travel. However, where approval is re-
quired, it is almost always granted expeditiously. 
(16) The United States regularly grants visas 
to Chinese officials, scholars, and others who travel 
to the United States to discuss, promote and display 
the Chinese Government’s perspective on the situa-
tion in Tibetan areas, even as the Chinese Govern-
ment restricts the ability of United States citizens to 
travel to Tibetan areas to gain their own perspective. 
(17) Chinese diplomats based in the United 
States generally avail themselves of the freedom to 
travel to United States cities and lobby city councils, 
mayors, and governors to refrain from passing reso-
lutions, issuing proclamations, or making statements 
of concern on Tibet. 
(18) The Chinese Government characterizes 
statements made by United States officials about the 
situation in Tibetan areas as inappropriate inter-
ference in the internal affairs of China. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) TIBETAN
AREAS.—The term ‘‘Tibetan 
areas’’ includes— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR); 
and 
(B) the prefectures and counties of the 
provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan, and 
Gansu of the People’s Republic of China that 
the Chinese Government designates as ‘‘Tibetan 
Autonomous’’ areas. 
(2) 
SENIOR
LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS.—The 
term ‘‘senior leadership positions’’ means— 
(A) at the provincial level, the Governor, 
the Vice Governor, the Party Secretary, the 
Party Disciplinary Committee Secretary, the 
Party Politics and Law Committee Secretary, 
the Organization Department Director, the 
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 
People’s Congress for the Autonomous Region 
or Province, the Chairman of the Autonomous 
Region or Provincial Committee of the People’s 
Political Consultative Conference, the head of 
the Tibetan Autonomous Region Communist 
Party Committee United Front Work Depart-
ment, the head of the Tibetan Autonomous Re-
gion Communist Party Committee Political and 
Legal Commission, the heads of the Tibetan 
Autonomous Region Public Security and State 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(E) any other individual determined by the 
Secretary of State to be personally and substan-
tially involved in the formulation or execution of 
policies in Tibetan areas. 
(3) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the United States Senate. 
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act and every 12 months 
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the ap-
propriate congressional committees a report that pro-
vides— 
(1) an assessment of the level of access Chinese 
authorities granted United States diplomats, jour-
nalists, and tourists to Tibetan areas in the People’s 
Republic of China, including a comparison with the 
level of access granted to other areas of the People’s 
Republic of China, a comparison between the levels 
of access granted to Tibetan and non-Tibetan areas 
in relevant provinces, and a description of the re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
quired permits and other measures that impede the 
freedom to travel in Tibetan areas; 
(2) a list of the persons in senior leadership po-
sitions in the Tibet Autonomous Region; 
(3) a list of the persons in senior leadership po-
sitions in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, 
Yunnan, and Gansu Provinces of the People’s Re-
public of China; 
(4) a list of the persons in senior leadership po-
sitions in Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Pre-
fecture, Ngawa (Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Tibetan 
Autonomous Prefecture, Muli (Mili) Autonomous 
County of Sichuan Province, Tsonub (Haixi) Mongol 
and Tibetan, Tsojang (Haibei) Tibetan, Malho 
(Huangnan) Tibetan, Yulshul (Yushu) Tibetan, and 
Golog (Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures of 
Qinghai Province, Dechen (Diqing) Tibetan Autono-
mous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, and the 
Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 
and Pari (Tianzhu) Tibetan Autonomous County of 
Gansu Province; 
(5) a list of the persons in senior leadership po-
sitions at the national level as defined in section 
3(2)(C); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(6) a list of the persons in senior leadership po-
sitions at the regional level as defined in section 
3(2)(D). 
(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The report required 
under subsection (a) shall be made available on the 
website of the Department of State. 
SEC. 5. INADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN ALIENS. 
(a) INELIGIBILITY FOR VISAS.—An alien is ineligible 
to receive a visa to enter the United States and ineligible 
to be admitted to the United States if such alien is on 
the list required by— 
(1) subsection (a)(2) of section 4, and if the 
Secretary of State determines that the requirements 
for specific official permission for foreigners to trav-
el to the Tibet Autonomous Region remain in effect, 
or that the current permission system has been re-
placed by a requirement that has the same effect of 
requiring foreign travelers to gain a level of permis-
sion to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region that is 
not required for travel to other province-level entities 
in the People’s Republic of China; 
(2) subsections (a)(3) and (a)(4) of section 4, 
and if the Secretary of State determines that restric-
tions on travel by United States officials, journalists, 
and citizens to areas designated as ‘‘Tibetan autono-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
mous’’ in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, 
Yunnan, and Gansu of the People’s Republic of 
China are greater than any restrictions on travel by 
United States officials, journalists, and citizens to 
areas in such provinces that are not so designated; 
or 
(3) subsections (a)(5) and (a)(6) of section 4, 
and if the Secretary of State determines that the re-
quirement for a specific permission to enter Tibet 
pertaining to travel by foreigners to the Tibet Au-
tonomous Region remain in effect, or that the re-
quirement has been replaced by a regulation that 
has the same effect of requiring foreign travelers to 
gain a level of permission to enter the Tibet Autono-
mous Region that is not required for travel to other 
province-level entities in the People’s Republic of 
China, and if the Secretary of State determines that 
restrictions on travel by United States officials and 
citizens to areas designated as ‘‘Tibetan Autono-
mous’’ in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, 
Yunnan, and Gansu of the People’s Republic of 
China are greater than any restrictions on travel by 
United States officials and citizens to areas in such 
provinces that are not so designated. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.—The Secretary of 
State shall revoke, in accordance with section 221(i) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 
the visa or other documentation of any alien who would 
be ineligible to receive such a visa or documentation under 
subsection (a). 
(c) WAIVER FOR NATIONAL INTERESTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State may 
waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) in the 
case of an alien if the Secretary determines that 
such a waiver— 
(A) is necessary to permit the United 
States to comply with the Agreement between 
the United Nations and the United States of 
America regarding the Headquarters of the 
United Nations, signed June 26, 1947, and en-
tered into force November 21, 1947, or other 
applicable international obligations of the 
United States; or 
(B) is in the national security interests of 
the United States. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—Upon granting a waiver 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a document detailing the evidence and justification 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
for the necessity of such waiver, including, if such 
waiver is granted pursuant to subparagraph (B) of 
such paragraph, how such waiver relates to the na-
tional security interests of the United States. 
SEC. 6. VISA POLICY. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) reciprocity forms the basis of diplomatic law 
and the practice of mutual exchanges between coun-
tries; 
(2) a country should give equivalent consular 
access to the nationals of another country in a recip-
rocal manner to the consular access granted by such 
other country to its own citizens; and 
(3) the Secretary of State, when granting dip-
lomats from the People’s Republic of China access 
to parts of the United States, should take into ac-
count the extent to which the Government of the 
People’s Republic of China grants United States dip-
lomats access to parts of the People’s Republic of 
China, including the level of access afforded to such 
diplomats to Tibetan areas. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:00 Mar 06, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1112.IH
H1112
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS