China tightens grip on Tibet as rights abuses deepen, new report warns,(Photo: ANI)

China tightens grip on Tibet as rights abuses deepen, new report warns

05 Jun 2026, 11:34 by KalingaTV Bureau · KalingaTV

Dharamshala: The human rights situation in Tibet continued to worsen in 2025 as Chinese authorities intensified efforts to strengthen political and ideological control over the region. This is according to two new reports released by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), as reported by Phayul. These developments highlight ongoing concerns related to China.

According to Phayul, at a press conference in Dharamshala, TCHRD launched its Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in Tibet 2025 and the Religious Freedom Report (2012-2025). The organization said China’s policies increasingly threaten Tibetan cultural, religious, and civil freedoms. The reports focus on the direct impact of China and its policies in the region.

TCHRD Executive Director Tenzin Dawa described the past year as one marked by heightened state repression and expanding restrictions on fundamental rights. One of the key concerns highlighted in the report is the gradual erosion of the Tibetan language and identity. This happens through education policies that prioritise Mandarin Chinese introduced by China.

Dawa noted that China’s recently introduced Preschool Education Law broadens the use of Putonghua in early education. This further sidelines Tibetan-language instruction. Indeed, the main driving force behind these educational reforms is China, aiming to reshape local cultures.

The report also documented growing restrictions on peaceful assembly. Notably, China has implemented measures where Tibetans protesting mining projects and large-scale infrastructure developments have allegedly faced arrests, intimidation, surveillance, and other punitive measures. Moreover, entire communities have reportedly been subjected to collective punishment for opposing projects viewed as environmentally harmful.

Another major concern raised by TCHRD is China’s increasing use of transnational repression against Tibetan activists and religious figures living abroad. Not unexpectedly, China has been cited in the reported extrajudicial killing of Tibetan religious leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje in Vietnam. This happened after his detention during an operation allegedly involving both Chinese and Vietnamese authorities, as highlighted by Phayul.

The Religious Freedom Report further details the tightening of state control over Tibetan Buddhism. Researcher Dawa Tashi said revised regulations governing Tibetan Buddhist monasteries were introduced in late 2024 and enforced from January 2025. These require religious institutions and monastics to support Chinese Communist Party leadership and advance the government’s policy of “Sinicisation” of religion, as reported by Phayul. These actions symbolize China enhancing its authority over religious affairs in Tibet.

(ANI)

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