The United States considers Tibet as part of China and does not support independence for the region, the White House said on Tuesday.
"The US position on the status of Tibet has not changed. We consider Tibet to be part of the People's Republic of China and do not support independence for Tibet," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily news conference.
Speaking on the weekend meeting of US President Barack Obama with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, Carney said it was an expression of his support for the preservation of Tibet's unique traditions and the rights of the Tibetan people.
"The President encourages the resumption of dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese government to resolve longstanding differences," Carney said.
"He is a Nobel Prize Laureate, as you know, and an internationally recognised religious and cultural leader. And the President meets with him, as other Presidents have, in that capacity," Carney said.