Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tibet again after four years. On the surface, the purpose is to attend the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. However, experts noted that it is extremely rare for the top Chinese leader to visit Tibet again following 2021. This visit is interpreted as a strategic move to completely eliminate the influence of the Dalai Lama, a symbol of the Tibetan independence movement, by using the recent reconciliation atmosphere with its 'rival' India.
According to major Chinese state media, including Xinhua News Agency, President Xi arrived in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, on the 20th and stayed for two days. State media emphasized that it is the first time in history that a top leader has attended a decadal anniversary event. Xinhua reported that President Xi instructed to 'maintain political and social stability and ethnic unity in Tibet' and emphasized to 'popularize the national common language (Putonghua) and promote exchanges and integration among ethnic groups.' This indicates a commitment to dilute Tibetan identity and accelerate complete integration as part of the 'Chinese national community.'
This visit has garnered attention amid the rapidly changing international situation. China sees India as being behind the Tibetan independence issue. The 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, fled to India in 1959 after resisting Chinese military rule and has established a government in exile in northern Dharamshala, leading a non-violent independence movement. India has effectively provided a base for the Tibetan independence movement. China and India have a long-standing conflict, having fought a war in 1962 over border issues.
However, recent currents have changed. After U.S. President Donald Trump decided to impose a 50% tariff on India, India sought to improve relations with China. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the end of this month, marking his first visit to China in seven years. China appears to be intent on using this opportunity to persuade India to cut support for the Dalai Lama and the government in exile. The recent formalization of the Dalai Lama's designation of his successor through reincarnation as he celebrates his 90th birthday has made this issue even more controversial.
During President Xi's visit, China is actively publicizing Tibet's economic achievements. Last year, Tibet's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 155 times compared to that during the establishment of the autonomous region in 1965. The average life expectancy increased from 35.5 years to 72.5 years.
However, underlying issues of religious and human rights repression remain. The West, including the United States and the European Union (EU), has continuously raised concerns over human rights issues in Tibet. President Trump also pressured China by restoring $6.8 million in aid for Tibetan refugees in India last month.
During this visit, President Xi was accompanied by top-ranking leaders, including Wang Huning (4th in the hierarchy) and Cai Qi (5th in the hierarchy), as well as influential figures in the United Front and public security sectors. Bloomberg reported that this foreshadows that China will strongly push for integration by combining the 'carrot' of economic support for Tibet and the 'stick' of ideological control and surveillance.