China has marked 60 years of Communist Party control in Tibet with a display of political and military might.
On Thursday, before a crowd of 20,000 people and under the watchful eye of President Xi Jinping, Chinese officials staged a parade and delivered speeches near the historic Potala Palace. This former residence of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959, served as a backdrop to the proceedings.
Senior Communist Party leader Wang Huning addressed the gathering, emphasizing economic progress in the region and issuing stern warnings against separatism. According to reliable sources, Wang stated, “Tibetan affairs are China’s internal affairs, and no external forces are permitted to interfere.”
Communist forces occupied Tibet in 1951, following their victory in the Chinese Civil War. The anniversary being celebrated marks the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965, known in Chinese as Xizang.
The parade featured floats representing various Tibetan regions, along with dance performances and military displays. Troops and police marched in formation, carrying banners with Communist Party slogans.
This development follows earlier reports of a decades-long campaign to suppress opposition to Chinese rule. The evidence suggests that Buddhist monks have been imprisoned and some monasteries demolished in the process.
While Chinese officials tout economic development and stability, many overseas Tibetans remain critical of Chinese governance. The Dalai Lama, now 90 years old, continues to live in exile in India, where a Tibetan government-in-exile operates from Dharamshala.
China’s insistence on its right to appoint the Dalai Lama’s successor raises important questions about religious freedom and cultural autonomy in the region.