Protests as China Seeks to Change Tibet’s Name to ‘Xizang

The chairman of Tibet’s government-in-exile has encouraged the world community not to follow China’s intention to replace the term “Tibet” with “Xizang” on official diplomatic documents.

According to Chinese media and the official account of the Communist Party of China’s United Front Work Department, “United Front News,” there is “no more Tibet in the official documents of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” RFA reported on Oct. 12.

The United Front attempts to co-opt and neutralize prominent individuals and organisations both inside and outside of mainland China that may oppose the policies of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, or CCP.

According to the RFA report, an English translation of a speech delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the opening ceremony of the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation on Oct. 5 used the term “Xizang” to refer to Tibet throughout the document.

“I urge the international community not to compromise with the CCP’s efforts to reshape history and to stick to the established term ‘Tibet,'” Sikyong Penpa Tsering (Above), the democratically elected political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, told Radio Free Asia in an exclusive interview in Washington on Thursday.

“By imposing its Chinese concept on the English one, the Chinese government wants to tell others that Tibet is just the ‘Tibet Autonomous Region,'” said Mr. Wang.

“The Chinese government cannot justify themselves by propagating propaganda to change the historical fact,” stated Mr. Wang. “Many history books and documents that exist in the past refer to ‘Tibet’ as Tibet.”

The name change comes as CCP experts advocate for a modification to the translated term that they claim will prevent the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual head, from regaining the privilege to talk about Tibet.

According to the academicians, the CCP must promote its rightful possession and governance of the western autonomous territory.

Sering, who has been sikyong since May 27, 2021, is on the final stage of an official visit from September 29 to October 24, which encompasses Latin America, where he hopes to develop support for the Tibetan cause, and North America, where he continues to conduct Tibet advocacy efforts.

Tsering spoke with Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who also attended the 16th anniversary of the awarding of the United States Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on October 17. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) were among those in attendance.

Pelosi described bestowing the highest civilian honour on His Holiness as a “source of pride,” emphasising the bipartisan support of US politicians for the Dalai Lama.

Tsering also spoke at the National Press Club on October 18 about Tibet’s geopolitical significance, spiritual and cultural impact, and the effects of President Xi Jinping’s “One China” policy, which Tibetans see as an attempt to obliterate their identity, culture, religion, and language.

Tsering has already visited Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Mexico in an effort to build links between the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala, India, and Latin America.

China Defends Its Communist Policy on Tibet Ahead of the Dalai Lama 60th Anniversary in Exile

China Defends It’s Communist Policy on Tibet Ahead of the Dalai Lama 60th Anniversary in Exile