Executive summary
- Since its invasion in 1950, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has exerted increasing control over Tibet, using political means, surveillance and imposing restrictions on Tibetan culture and language.
- The Dalai Lama provides significant soft power for the Tibetan diaspora, but his reincarnation is highly politicised by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which seeks to control the appointment of lamas.
- The Tibet issue gains less international attention than the CCP’s actions in Xinjiang due to less cross-border interaction and lower economic output from Tibet, which is exacerbated by the unwillingness of the so-called ‘Global South’ to risk losing Chinese investment.
About the author
Charles Parton is Chief Adviser to the China Observatory and a Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy.
Disclaimer
This publication should not be considered in any way to constitute advice. It is for knowledge and educational purposes only. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council on Geostrategy or the views of its Advisory Council.
Image credit: Potala Palace in Lhasa, Lhasa Government, 2020, CC 4.0
No. 2025/16| ISBN: 978-1-917893-08-4
