The article says that the congressman has a record of interest in China's human rights abuses in Tibeet (a subject I *am* interested in). My guess is that he has become frustrated by getting absolutely nowhere with that, and has turned to trying to "get" the Chinese on stolen art objects -- something he can actually prove with concrete evidence, that does not require witnesses (especially *live* witnesses, something in short supply in that part of the world). This is very much like convicting Al Capone on tax evasion -- not the real issue, but all you can manage.
The upside is that the Chinese government will be at least embarrassed (something that I'm always in favor of!). The downside is that our tax dollars will be spent on a mere embarrassment, since nothing of significance will really happen. The Chinese may eventually pay a few million in reparations or something of that sort, but there is no independent Tibetan government left to receive it. They will just be transferring payment from one hand to the other.
Well said. I do hope we're working on sub killer technology, so that we can scuttle the entire Chinese fleet, y'know, as a surprise birthday present for the late Mao Tse Tung /Zedong.