NJ community admonished by Chinese ambassador for raising Tibet's flag

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Belleville Township, Essex County, planned an event for Friday, Feb.10 that included the raising of Tibet's flag at town hall.

But the news about the event made its way to Ambassador Huang Ping, consul general of the People's Republic of China's New York consulate, and it didn't sit well with him. So he sent a letter to Belleville Mayor Michael Melham saying the flag of Tibet - an autonomous region in China - represents an illegal separatist group.

"(Tibet) has been China's territory since ancient times, and its affairs are purely internal for China," Ping said in the letter.

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"Moreover, the United States has made a clear commitment of recognizing Xizang (Tibet) as part of China and not supporting 'Tibet independence,'" he added.

But the letter didn't stop the Tibetan flag raising in Belleville's town hall.

In a statement on the event day, Melham said the township's intentions were not to challenge the sovereignty of any nation.

"Instead, our gesture symbolizes solidarity with the Tibetan people and their aspirations for freedom and self-determination,” Melham said. "It is a reaffirmation of our shared values of inclusivity, diversity, and human dignity that Belleville is historically known for."

Belleville has been celebrating the Chinese New Year for over 150 years, the mayor said in his social media.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Belleville, NJ raises Tibetan flag despite Chinese ambassador request