ultimateimp – President Xi Jinping made a rare and unannounced visit to Tibet. Marking 60 years since China established the Tibet Autonomous Region. In a speech before 20,000 people in Lhasa, Xi emphasized the importance of political unity, ethnic harmony, and religious regulation. This is only his second presidential visit to the tightly controlled region. Reinforcing Beijing’s authority over Tibet amid ongoing tensions with the Tibetan spiritual community.
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Xi praised the regional government for its continued stance against separatism, referencing long-standing Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule. He did not mention the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959 following a failed uprising. The Dalai Lama recently reiterated that his office, not Beijing, would determine his successor—something Chinese authorities firmly reject.
At age 72, Xi’s visit to the high-altitude capital signals his determination to maintain control over Tibet. Both symbolically and politically. In meetings with senior Communist Party officials, he outlined four strategic goals for the region: ensuring political stability, fostering development, protecting the environment, and securing national borders.
State media heavily publicized the visit, with images of cheering crowds and traditional Tibetan dancers appearing across newspapers and TV bulletins. Official coverage portrayed the event as a moment of national celebration and unity, reinforcing state narratives on Tibet’s integration into China.
Religious Regulation, Dam Construction, and Beijing’s Vision for Tibet’s Future
During his meetings, Xi also promoted deeper economic, cultural, and personnel exchanges between Tibet and other regions in China. He emphasized the need to strengthen Mandarin education and standardize Chinese characters across Tibetan schools. New laws require Tibetan children to attend state-run schools, where Mandarin is the primary language of instruction.
The president further called for stricter regulation of religious practices, insisting that Tibetan Buddhism must adapt to a socialist society. Human rights groups argue that such policies erode the region’s religious and cultural identity, which has existed for centuries. Beijing, however, insists that it protects religious freedom while supporting modern development.
The timing of the visit is also significant, coming just one month after China began constructing the Motuo Hydropower Station on the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Once completed, it will become the world’s largest dam, surpassing the Three Gorges Dam and potentially generating three times more energy.
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Costing around 1.2 trillion yuan ($167 billion), the project is promoted as an ecological and economic initiative aimed at improving regional prosperity. However, environmentalists and neighboring countries have raised concerns. The Yarlung Tsangpo flows into India’s Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states, then into Bangladesh, where it becomes the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers.
Critics warn that China could gain control over vital water resources shared by downstream countries. Xi’s visit, coupled with this massive infrastructure project, underscores China’s strategic focus on integrating Tibet fully within its national agenda—politically, culturally, and economically. The long-term implications for regional stability and transboundary relations remain uncertain.
