This summer, Indian pilgrims will once again be able to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region. The route had been closed since summer 2020.
By Emily Kossak
China has announced visa restrictions on US officials wishing to travel to Tibet. The measure is aimed at American personnel who have "misbehaved" on Tibet-related issues, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
By
In his latest book, the Dalai Lama looks back at his relationship with Mao and other Chinese leaders. He never wanted to be used for their propaganda. In his stories, the Dalai Lama displays a remarkable sense of humor.
By Table.Briefings
The conflict over the succession to the Dalai Lama is coming to a head. His successor will be born outside of China, writes the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese government also wants to decide on his successor.
By Leonardo Pape
Following the devastating earthquake in Tibet in January, the authorities have drastically revised the number of people affected upwards. Experts express concerns about transparency and corruption.
By Fabian Peltsch
The tremors of a strong quake, the epicenter of which was in the remote county of Tingri, could even be felt in Nepal and India. It is one of the deadliest quakes that China has experienced in recent years.
By Angela Köckritz
For a quarter of a century, China has been building hydropower plants in Tibet on a piecework basis. The dynamic threatens people and nature alike.
By Marcel Grzanna
Penpa Tsering, the chairman of the Tibetan government-in-exile, recently met with France's President Emmanuel Macron. In an interview, Tsering explains why it's a mistake to be intimidated by Beijing's threats.
By Marcel Grzanna
Human rights organizations such as the Tibet Initiative and Human Rights Watch Germany have expressed disappointment that the German Chancellor barely raised human rights issues during his visit to China.
By Marcel Grzanna
A court has sentenced twelve democracy activists to prison terms of up to seven years for storming the parliament building in Hong Kong in July 2019. At the presentation of the Snow Lion Human Rights Award, guests paid tribute to the activists.
By Felix Lee
Tibet is an autonomous region in western China. Due to accusations of human rights violations and an ongoing conflict about the independence of Tibet, China faces international criticism. Read all relevant and current news on China.Table.
The Tibet Autonomous Region is located to the southwest of the People's Republic of China and borders India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It is one of the highest regions in Inner Asia and is therefore also referred to as the "roof of the world". Mount Everest is located on the border with Nepal. Tibet Autonomous Region has about 3.9 million inhabitants, most of whom make a living from agriculture.
For decades, there has been an ongoing conflict about the status of Tibet with China. The relationship with China dates back centuries. After the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, Tibet declared its independence. However, following the communist takeover under Mao Zedong (1949), in 1950, Chinese troops invaded Tibet. In 1951, under political pressure, Tibetan government spokesmen signed the "17-Point Agreement", also known as the "Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet". As a result, the region lost its independence.
Since then, Tibet's status as a part of China has been contested under international law. For China, it is an integral part of the mainland that was reincorporated through the conquest. On the other hand, the Tibetan government in exile, maintains that it used to be an independent state until China's invasion. They argue that China’s invasion violates international law.
The defense of Chinese territory is an indispensable aspect of national security for the Communist Party. Accordingly, China reacts rigidly to independence efforts by individual regions, such as Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hongkong. Furthermore, Tibet not only forms a geopolitically important border with neighboring India but also holds great cultural and historical significance for China’s self-image. In recent years, uprisings such as the Tibetan unrest in 2008 have been suppressed and any international criticism has been fended off.
The conflict between China and Tibet is far from being solved. China.Table provides you with the latest news and developments.
