Lhasa – Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Tibet on Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of Beijing’s consolidation of control over the Himalayan region. It was only his second visit to Tibet since taking office.

According to state media outlet Xinhua, Xi was welcomed in Lhasa with flowers, music, and traditional dances by crowds representing “various ethnic groups.” During the visit, he called for building a “modern socialist Tibet that is united, prosperous, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful.”

Historical and Political Context

China’s People’s Liberation Army entered Tibet in 1951, and in 1965, Beijing formally established the Tibet Autonomous Region under Communist Party rule. Since then, Tibet has experienced decades of political repression, including the demolition of monasteries, arrests of monks, and restrictions on cultural and religious practices.

In recent years, Beijing has intensified assimilation policies—encouraging large-scale migration of Han Chinese, expanding state-run boarding schools that separate Tibetan children from their families, and strictly limiting foreign access to the region.

China also insists it has the authority to appoint the next Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who fled to India in 1959 and now lives in exile.

Regional Tensions

Xi’s visit comes amid heightened sensitivities. On Tuesday, exiled Tibetans in India staged protests during a visit by China’s foreign minister. Critics argue that repression in Tibet has deepened since the 2008 anti-government protests, while Beijing highlights its record in poverty reduction and infrastructure development in the region.

Tibet also holds strategic importance for China, as its southern edge borders India. In recent years, China has expanded road and military infrastructure along the contested frontier, raising tensions with New Delhi.

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