Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018

Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018

This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress annually regarding the level of access Chinese authorities granted U.S. diplomats, journalists, and tourists to Tibetan areas in China. Such assessment shall include:

• a comparison with the level of access granted to other areas of China,
• a comparison between the levels of access granted to Tibetan and non-Tibetan areas in relevant provinces,
• a comparison of the level of access in the reporting year and the previous year, and
• a description of the measures that impede the freedom to travel in Tibetan areas.

No individual who is substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners to Tibetan areas may enter the United States if:

• the requirement that foreigners must receive official permission to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region remains in effect, or has been replaced by a similar regulation that also requires foreigners to gain a level of permission to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region that is not required for other provinces; and
• travel restrictions on U.S. diplomats, officials, journalists, and citizens to Tibet Autonomous areas in Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Gansu Provinces are greater than travel restrictions to other areas.

The State Department shall report to Congress annually, identifying individuals who were blocked from U.S. entry during the preceding year and a list of Chinese officials who were substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies to restrict the access of U.S. diplomats, journalists, and citizens to Tibetan areas.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov