The US bipartisan congressional delegation — whose meeting with the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala upset the Chinese — met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday before wrapping up their India visit.

Led by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul, the seven-member delegation included former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a known China-baiter, Nancy Pelosi.

The delegation had met the Dalai Lama on Wednesday amid protests from China which considers him a separatist.

China repeated its objections on Thursday when asked for a response to the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile saying that it will use the proposed new US legislation — Resolve Tibet Act — to force Beijing to the negotiating table.

“The so-called ‘Tibetan government-in-exile’ is entirely a separatist political group. It is an illegal organisation that violates China’s Constitution and laws. No country in the world recognises it.

“When it comes to the contact and talks between the Chinese Central Government and the 14th Dalai Lama, our policy is consistent and clear. The key is that the 14th Dalai Lama must have a complete reflection on and thoroughly correct its political propositions,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

As for the visit of the congressional delegation, he added: “The Chinese government’s position on Xizang-related issues is consistent and clear. Xizang’s affairs are China’s internal affairs, which brook no external interference.

“We urge the US to fully recognise the importance and high sensitivity of Xizang-related issues, earnestly respect the core interests of China, abide by the commitments it has made to China on Xizang-related issues, have no contact with the Dalai group in any form, and stop sending the wrong signal to the world.” Xizang is the Mandarin name for Tibet.

In a related post on X, Dhundup Gyalpo Bawa, secretary of the Dalai Lama’s bureau in the capital, said: “The saying ‘repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth’ does not apply here, just as substituting ‘Xizang’ for ‘Tibet’ does not change historical facts.”

He tagged the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in India, McCaul and Pelosi in the post.