Tibet government-in-exile to skip Nepal conference amid Chinese pressure

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), headquartered in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala, has decided not to send its official delegation to the 17th International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) Conference, which is set to take place in Kathmandu.

In Short

• Tibet's government-in-exile withdraws from Kathmandu conference
• The international conference is set to host Tibetan scholars from around
• China's envoy raised concerns with Kathmandu over 'anti-China rhetoric'

Tibet's government-in-exile has decided to withdraw its participation from an upcoming international gathering of Tibetan scholars in Kathmandu amid Chinese pressure on the Nepalese government.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), headquartered in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala, has decided not to send its official delegation to the 17th International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from August 23 to 29.

It had planned to send five representatives from its think tank, the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI). The delegation was to be led by TPI Director Dawa Tsering and include researchers Dr Chewang Dorjee, Dr Tsering Dolma, Dr Karma Tenzing Dhalia, and Dr Rigmon Tsering Samdup.

According to a senior security official, on July 20, China's Ambassador to Nepal, Zhang Maoming, met with Nepali Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and expressed concerns about the conference after learning that some CTA representatives were expected to participate officially.

The source said, "The ambassador did not ask for the conference to be cancelled, but expressed concern that it could become a platform for anti-China rhetoric. Perhaps to avoid placing additional pressure on the Nepalese government and to ensure the conference proceeds smoothly, the CTA decided not to send its official representatives."

While the CTA did decide to not participate officially, scholars who have already registered may still attend the conference in their personal capacity.

A second security official stated, "Respecting Nepal's foreign policy and to avoid creating an uncomfortable situation, the CTA decided at its July 21 meeting in Dharamshala not to participate officially. However, it has indicated that Tibetan scholars and experts may still attend the conference as private individuals."

This is the first time Nepal is about to host the IATS Conference. Previously, the gathering has been held in Asia in Japan (1989) and Mongolia (2013).

According to the IATS website, Kathmandu University's Himalayan Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS) and the Centre for Buddhist Studies, linked to the Rangjung Yeshe Institute, are serving as the local co-organisers.

The conference is being coordinated by Dr Sagar Sharma, Director, Himalayan Centre for Asian Studies (HiCAS), Kathmandu University and Rangjung Yeshe Institute's Thomas Doctor. According to Dr Sharma, all preparations are being carried out in coordination with the government and security agencies.

"Kathmandu University is the local organiser of this conference, and we are coordinating all preparations with government authorities. Hosting such a major international conference in Kathmandu is an achievement in itself. Since this is purely an academic event, there should be no problems," he said.

Interestingly, despite China's concerns about the conference, around 100 participants from China are expected to attend. According to the organisers, more than 700 delegates from 39 countries have registered, with the United States contributing the largest delegation of about 150 participants. China has the second-largest representation.

Researchers from Lhasa, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Beijing, as well as from Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge, are expected to participate.

In addition, representatives from the China Tibetology Research Center, along with delegates from Buddhist monasteries in India, Taiwan, and Japan, are also set to attend the conference in Kathmandu.

The IATS is an international organisation comprising scholars, university professors, historians, linguists, theologians, and sociologists specialising in Tibetan studies. Its primary objective is to promote research related to Tibet.

China, however, views the official participation of the CTA or the political activities of the Dalai Lama at Tibet-related conferences as challenging its claim of sovereignty over the Tibet Autonomous Region.

- Ends