Category: Tibet

We are pleased to republish the below interview with British political figure Mark Logan, which was originally published by Global Times on November 10, following his visit to the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, where he participated in the 2025 Forum on the Development of Xizang and visited Nyingchi City.

Logan stated that: “Despite its sparse population, high-altitude terrain and logistical challenges, Xizang has witnessed the common Chinese characteristics of success in the snow-covered plateau over past decades. Its level of infrastructure development is remarkable. Driving from Nyingchi Mainling Airport to the city, I witnessed modern highways winding through difficult landscapes – a testament to engineering feats seldom seen elsewhere.”

Regarding the status of the Tibetan language, he observes: “What impressed me most was the vibrant preservation and everyday use of the Tibetan language. Unlike certain Celtic languages in Northern Ireland – my homeland in the UK – which face varying degrees of endangerment, the Tibetan language is visibly alive in Xizang: on street signs, at formal occasions and in daily conversations among locals. It’s a living language, not a relic.” [Logan refers here to the Irish language along with Ulster Scots, also known as Ullans.]

Similarly: “Tibetan medicine also left a lasting impression… This form of medicine is not only culturally significant but also holds potential for broader commercial and wellness applications. These experiences reflect a living culture, well-integrated into modern life in the region.”

He also addressed the question of the natural environment: “Xizang’s natural landscape is truly stunning, distinguished by its incomparable scale and pristine condition. This is due in large part to the Chinese government’s firm commitment to ecological conservation. It is remarkable that more than 50 percent of Xizang’s total land area has been listed under ecological conservation protection. I observed no signs of pollution during my travel from Nyingchi to other parts of Xizang. This reflects a successful balance between environmental preservation and economic development – a model many nations struggle to achieve. This alignment of ecological and economic goals is not only inspiring but globally significant.”

He added: “It is unfortunate that some Western developed countries often criticise or attempt to corner China on issues like human rights. From my perspective, however, China demonstrates the right approach in terms of governance and public welfare. Though already boasting advanced infrastructure and a strong economy, China remains a developing nation in the most meaningful sense. It is not a static society, but a developing one: always evolving, always striving to deliver better lives for its people, which stands in stark contrast to the static perception of ‘developed societies.’”

Saying that, “based on my firsthand experience, I find many Western media narratives disconnected from the reality,” he concluded:

“We should encourage more people, including intellectuals, nature enthusiasts, climate researchers, linguists and culture seekers, to visit China, learn Putonghua and see it firsthand. That would do more to foster understanding than any political rhetoric.”

Formerly a British diplomat in Shanghai, Logan served as the Conservative Party MP for the north England constituency of Bolton North East, December 2019-May 2024. When then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election, he announced that he had quit the Conservatives and joined the Labour Party. He did not seek re-election to parliament. Whilst in parliament, he also served as a Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on China.

GT: You recently participated in the 2025 Forum on the Development of Xizang and visited Nyingchi City in Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. Could you share the most unforgettable experiences from this trip? What unique impressions has Xizang left you with, and how does it differ from your experiences in other Chinese provinces and regions?

Continue reading Former British MP extols Xizang’s development

In the following article, which was originally published by Global Times as part of its “Truth Seen in Xizang” series, which draws on the eyewitness accounts by foreigners of their visits to China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, Arnold August, a Montreal-based writer and activist, and a leading member of the International Manifesto Group (IMG), reflects on his 2023 visit and notes:

“I am deeply interested in how China strives to integrate the most dynamic aspects of the religious features of culture into its thinking and actions. This applies locally to Buddhism in Xizang.”

Graphically describing the synthesis between tradition and modernity as an ancient civilisation experiences a period of rapid development, he recalls: “We see most people dressed in traditional garments, witness hundreds of Buddhist monks in their religious garb while walking and/or praying, traditional Buddhist architecture side by side with modern malls, kids rollerblading, others enjoying themselves with their families in an amusement park, or the less timid approaching our group to practice their English and satisfy their curiosity.”

Visiting the Jokhang Temple in the old part of the regional capital Lhasa, which features traditional Tibetan architecture, “what attracted my attention was that it houses the Gelug school monastery (Gelug means ‘virtuous’), the most recent of several vital schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The teaching language, of course, is Tibetan.” And the Potala Palace, which overlooks the city, “contains nearly 700 murals and 10,000 painted scrolls, as well as an impressive collection of important historical documents. If the Western-driven fable of Tibetan ‘suppression’ is true, then how can we explain China’s dedication to the history of the Xizang region?

“To claim that a culture is being ‘eradicated’ while its language is taught, its religion practiced, and its history displayed and studied is a contradiction too glaring to ignore. It raises the uncomfortable question: Who gets to define what cultural survival looks like?”

Arnold writes: “As someone born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, I have a deep appreciation for issues of language, identity and cultural preservation. This personal background made me particularly sensitive to what I observed in Xizang.”

Having described what he’d seen on the visit, he concludes: “In contrast, what is the situation in Quebec, whose distinct cultural heritage goes back to 1618? Unlike the situation for Tibetans, our music, film, journalism, novels and poetry remain just an obscure footnote to Anglo-American cultural and linguistic domination… My main message is to visit Xizang and experience the contrast between fact and fiction.”

Xizang, a region known for its breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural traditions, has long become a target of Western smear campaigns and falsehoods about China. What is the truth? In the “Truth Seen in Xizang” series, the Global Times publishes conversations with and articles from scholars and observers from around the world who have visited the region, sharing their firsthand experience of traveling to Xizang and observing the daily lives of people there. Through their insights and experiences, we aim to present an authentic perspective on the Xizang Autonomous Region. This is the seventh piece of the series.

In 2023, I had the honor of visiting China’s Xizang Autonomous Region as a delegate in the autumn cohort of scholars and journalists, alongside representatives from the Americas, Europe, and Australasia. I am deeply grateful to have been invited to visit Xizang. There are various reports from the ground to share. This is just one.
As someone born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, I have a deep appreciation for issues of language, identity and cultural preservation. This personal background made me particularly sensitive to what I observed in Xizang.

Continue reading Fact and fiction in Tibet: An eyewitness account

In the following article, Friends of Socialist China Britain Committee Secretary David Peat reports back first-hand observations from a recent trip to Tibet (Xizang Autonomous Region). The visit, part of a commercial delegation assessing tourism offerings, allowed David to experience the beautiful natural scenery, the evident leaps and bounds of development, and the rich, vibrant cultural life of the region. Countering Western narratives which seek to destabilise the region (and China at large) by depicting Xizang as a repressive police state, David was able to observe how the Tibetan language, religious, and cultural practices are integrally woven into daily life, alongside the major improvements in livelihood which have occurred since the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region, this year celebrating its 60th anniversary.

For thousands of years Tibet, or to give its proper contemporary title, Xizang Autonomous Region, has held a particular mystique for travellers, both in Asia and further beyond. In the West, this has often taken an ‘orientalist’ form, and the realities of life in Tibet were exoticised and misrepresented to fulfil western explorers’ and/or spiritualists’ particular delusions. Then and now, this kind of obfuscation has been weaponised by western imperialist interests to paint a picture of a ‘Holy’, innocent land being repressed by ‘Oriental despots’ (or, in contemporary times, ‘Godless communists’), and therefore requiring of liberation from ‘civilised’ westerners. This was seen in recent decades in the form of the ‘Free Tibet’ campaigns, which wholly ignored both the cruel realities of the feudal, slave-owning system present in the region until its liberation, and the enormous subsequent development taking place.

The reality of life in Xizang is, of course, more complicated, and one of the best ways to “seek truth from facts” and gain an accurate understanding is by visiting the region. Thankfully, this is becoming easier and easier, and I was able to do so recently as part of a large commercial delegation organised by the Chinese National Tourism Organisation.

More than 100 travel agents, representing more than 10 European and Australasian countries, were invited to experience the tourism resources in the region, and decide whether they would be suitable to promote to their clients in their respective countries. A standard practice across the global travel industry, these ‘familiarisation tours’ are operated with the participation of local tourism bureaus, hoteliers, experience providers, and so on. They are offered as ways to promote knowledge of the region, encourage networking, and hopefully increase tourism numbers. However, it is entirely up to the participating travel agent to decide if they wish to develop products as a result (no ‘deliverables’ are required as a condition of joining).

This tour was for six days in Xizang and consisted of two-night stays in three cities: Shannan, Shigatse, and the regional capital of Lhasa. It should come as no surprise that Xizang is a truly outstanding tourist destination. The stunning and diverse natural landscapes, the unique architectural styles and distinct religious/cultural iconography, and above all the welcoming local population, who are more often than found wearing beautiful traditional clothing, make it a genuinely unique location, and one that is sure to become a must-visit destination in coming years. It must also be remembered that Xizang is fully part of a rapidly modernising China, and its socialist construction is evident in all respects—from high quality transport infrastructure to widespread green energy installations. The effects of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ecological civilisation slogan and nationwide campaign of “clear waters and green mountains” can be felt most strongly here. The juxtaposition of ancient and modern is to be found everywhere, with for example experiencing better 5G on an ancient sacred mountain at 5000m altitude than you would get in central London(!), and being able to leave an offering to a Bodhisattva statue (if so inclined) using the omnipresent WeChat Pay/Alipay QR payment codes.

Discussions with our local Tibetan guide were free and open, and beyond the planned itinerary participants were free to explore cities independently. Despite frequently repeated propaganda claims in the west about intense repression, police and military presence was not strongly evident, and certainly not more so than in the rest of the country. Indeed, a small unarmed police presence at major tourists spots is considerably more relaxed than most European destinations. As we toured historic and cultural sites, of which the guides were quite clearly very proud, they discussed the long and eventful history of the region. Readers looking to better understand the history of the region should seek out the excellent books When the Serfs Stood up in Tibet by American journalist Anna Louise Strong and Tibet Transformed by Polish-born journalist Israel Epstein.

Of particular historical interest on this tour was the discussion by the guide of the destruction of cultural and religious sites by an invading British force in the early 20th Century, the so-called “Younghusband Expedition”, let by the eponymous Colonel, which sought to extend the control of the British empire from the Indian subcontinent and prevent Russian imperial interests from gaining purchase. The invading force, which was composed primarily of British Indian conscripts, was highly destructive and cruel, killing many Tibetans and destroying important historic sites. Also discussed openly was the Cultural Revolution, during which some religious and cultural sites were damaged and destroyed. It should be noted that for the participants these sites represented the feudal and slave-owning system, which had been overthrown in recent living memory (the preceding 10-20 years), and as such the destruction can perhaps be contextualised. In spite of all this tumult, the region retains a huge amount of its historic treasures, and they can be enjoyed and cherished by the locals and visitors alike. Some images from the journey can be viewed here.

Xizang’s population is more than 86 percent Tibetan, with Han at around 12 percent, with other ethnic minorities such as Hui Muslims making up the rest. As was true throughout the country, ethnic minorities were not subject to the one-child policy in Xizang. The prevalence of Tibetan cultural and religious practices, the Tibetan language, cuisine etc., can be seen everywhere, and flies in the face of tales of its suppression. The Tibetan economy has seen huge growth in recent years, outpacing the rest of the country with GDP growth of 9.5 percent in 2023, and, as part of the nationwide campaign and First Centenary Goal, it was able to fully eradicate extreme poverty in 2019.^[1] Average life expectancy in Tibet has surpassed 72 years, more than double the figure of 35.5 years recorded in 1951. 

Incidentally, during the time of the trip, Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po (also known as the Panchen Lama), the primary Tibetan Buddhist religious leader residing in Xizang, held an important visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This year marks 60 years since the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region,^[2] and president Xi expressed the hope that the religious leader “will carry on the glorious tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in loving the country, and resolutely safeguard national unity and ethnic solidarity.”^[3]

The “Xizang issue” is likely to become a news item again in the near future, with the “government-in-exile” (and more importantly their imperialist backers) planning to weaponise the succession of the title of Dalai Lama (a religious and political leader). Given the advanced age of the current holder of that title, the succession is almost certain to occur in the coming years.

In accordance with General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s view of tourism as “an emerging strategic pillar industry, which has contributed to the people’s wellbeing and their sense of happiness”,^[4] travel to the entire People’s Republic has never been easier, thanks to the introduction of many visa-free programs (especially for shorter stays) and simplified visa processing for longer stays. Travel to Tibet/Xizang requires an additional permit which can be secured quite simply by any reputable travel agent that organises group or individual itineraries in China.

Everywhere you go in Xizang you are welcomed with the phrase བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལགས། ‘Tashi delek’ [auspicious blessing] and more often than not given a hada, a white scarf symbolizing purity and auspiciousness. This is the sincere attitude of the Tibetan people towards visitors, whether from the rest of the country or further afield, and they are extremely welcoming of international guests coming to experience their rich culture, and to see the life that the Tibetan people are building as an integral part of the Chinese path to modernisation. As such, when planning your next trip to China, consider including a visit to Xizang Autonomous Region for a truly unique and memorable experience.

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^[1] ‘Xizang experiencing its best period of development’, Xinhua, https://english.news.cn/20240309/908a619bb225490a9e9b766c843bf287/c.html

^[2] ‘Logo unveiled for 60th anniversary celebration of Xizang Autonomous Region’, Global Times,  https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334708.shtml

^[3] ‘Xi receives visit from Panchen Rinpoche’, Global Times, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335569.shtml

^[4] ‘Xi stresses efforts to promote high-quality development of tourism sector’, Xinhua, https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202405/20/content_WS664b2890c6d0868f4e8e746c.html

The following article by Arnold August, originally published on CGTN, details Arnold’s 2023 tour of Xizang/Tibet, and contrasts the situation today – with extreme poverty having been eliminated and cutting edge infrastructure helping to solve some of the development problems presented by the province’s vast and rugged terrain – with that prevailing under the serf system in place until the late 1950s.

Arnold writes: “Under the thumb of a feudal theocracy, about 5 percent of the population of Xizang were serf-owners, while at least 95 percent were serfs. I can never forget the images of a grandmother, mother and small child who were born in the cowshed of a serf-owner, where they lived. This was the fourth generation to endure these conditions.”

Not everybody was happy with the dismantling of serfdom and the liberation of the masses. Some “opposed democratic reforms and, on March 10, 1959, along with the Dalai Lama, organised a US-led armed revolt. The insurrection was ultimately defeated, causing the Dalai Lama and his close followers to retreat to India.”

Such are the roots of the so-called Free Tibet movement, backed to the hilt (always with money and propaganda support, and at times with weapons) by the CIA. This is a movement for freedom of the oppressors and for the destabilisation and undermining of People’s China.

Arnold August is the author of five books on international issues and is on the editorial board of the International Manifesto Group.

Some argue that 73 years ago today, in 1951, Xizang experienced a historic leap in its social system with its peaceful liberation. But is the term “historic leap” an exaggeration? To address this, we need to consider the conditions from which Xizang emerged.

As a participant in a tour of Xizang in 2023, I had access to Xizang’s historical film footage. The evidence, based on video and still photographs, captures the reality of ancient Xizang’s serfdom before 1951. The scenes, narratives and interviews then fast-forward through the years leading to 1959 to 1960, when democratic reforms began in earnest. During the tour, these visuals were supplemented by on-the-spot discussions with people in Xizang, who provided additional information and figures.

What are the facts? Consider a stark reality typical of the centuries before that watershed year of 1951, when, under the thumb of a feudal theocracy, about 5 percent of the population of Xizang were serf-owners, while at least 95 percent were serfs. I can never forget the images of a grandmother, mother and small child who were born in the cowshed of a serf-owner, where they lived. This was the fourth generation to endure these conditions.

Many commentators focus on the post-1959 reforms, but other data are crucial. From 1950, even before the formal declaration of peaceful liberation in 1951, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was building infrastructure. Most notably, the 1,947-kilometer highway between Xining, the capital of neighboring Qinghai Province, and Lhasa, was completed in 1954, replacing travel by foot or yak. By April 1956, a total of 4,300-km railway lines had been built.

So instead of a three-hour flight from Xining to Lhasa, our hosts planned a train trip for our 2023 tour. The 22-hour journey across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau allowed us to see firsthand how the vast, rugged, high-altitude, cold region is one of the enormous challenges to Xizang’s modernization.

Despite such achievements as the rapid development of transportation infrastructure and the abolition of serfdom on March 28, 1959, some in the Xizang’s ruling circles saw the writing on the wall and resisted change in order to maintain the serf system. They opposed democratic reforms and, on March 10, 1959, along with the Dalai Lama, organized a U.S.-led armed revolt. The insurrection was ultimately defeated, causing the Dalai Lama and his close followers to retreat to India.

While they abandoned the ship, China nevertheless surged forward. According to local people, the government involved close to 10 activist/advisors-committees by sending them to the grassroots more than 190,000 times. This took place from 2012 to 2020. Their task: flesh out the plan to eradicate extreme poverty. This goal was achieved in 2020, a marvel for Xizang.

The fundamental reasons for the “historic leap” in Xizang’s social system, which I believe to be true based on facts, may challenge the preconceived notions held by much of the West. China’s development since October 1, 1949, shows that, despite inevitable twists and turns, the government, together with the people at the grassroots, is fully committed to modernizing the country.

In the process, they are developing a new kind of socialism that is in line with China’s realities, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of the times. From this altruistic perspective, it was only natural that Xizang should receive the same benefits. Why? Because historically, Xizang has always been part of China and has been under China’s administrative rule for nearly a thousand years.

The Lhasa high-tech zone innovation and entrepreneurship service platform is an excellent model of “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” This term, in the Chinese context, refers to the ongoing efforts of socialist nations to effectively balance the needs of the individual with those of the collective. As for the high-tech institute, our hosts explained that all the students require is to bring their computer and their ideas. Then, free of charge, the students are connected to the most advanced facilities to realize their concepts.

We were also given a brief introduction to their Chinese-English bilingual website. After the tour, I continued to explore the website. I learned that the requirements for admission to the program include adherence to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and support for the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system. Although membership in the CPC is not required for acceptance into the program, individuals who have been expelled from the CPC are not accepted.

Do these requirements conflict with individual initiative? To Westerners blinded by U.S.-centered prejudices against socialism, they may seem contradictory. But for the Chinese, these imperatives are normal because socialism with Chinese characteristics is deeply embedded in their values. This is not just a top-down approach; as seen in the high-tech center, everyone is part of the process.

The recent disturbing incident in which the Dalai Lama, the self-exiled leader of the former feudal ruling elite in China’s Tibet region, invited a young boy to suck his tongue, has understandably been greatly downplayed by the imperialist media – understandable in that they have been party to a decades-long campaign of deception and psychological warfare aimed at presenting this feudal relic as some kind of saint-like figure. This, in turn, is aimed at dismembering China by fostering secessionism in a strategic region facing India across the Himalayas. 

In the following article, which originally appeared on her website, Caitlin Johnstone – Daily Writings About The End Of Illusions, the independent, anti-imperialist Australian journalist Caitlin Johnstone, not only describes the recent incident, which took place at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala, India, but also provides some crucial background, including her own voyage of discovery regarding this supposed spiritual leader’s true nature.

Noting his approval of the US-led wars of aggression in Afghanistan and previously in Korea, along with his studied equivocation regarding that in Iraq, Caitlin observes:

“But I guess that’s about the best anyone could expect from a literal CIA asset. His administration received $1.7 million a year from the Central Intelligence Agency through the 1960s, and it’s reported that he himself personally received $180,000 a year from the CIA for decades.”

We should just note that this article refers (albeit approvingly) to Tibet having been “forcibly annexed” by China in the 1950s. In fact, Tibet, which has been an integral part of China for centuries, was peacefully liberated by the People’s Liberation Army in 1951. The Dalai Lama, together with a number of his followers, fled Tibet in March 1959, after their attempt to stage an armed uprising aimed at preventing the introduction of democratic reforms to abolish serfdom was foiled. This doubtless inadvertent error in no way detracts from the central thrust of the article.

There’s a really gross video going around of the Dalai Lama kissing a young boy on the lips and telling him to suck his tongue while an adult audience looks on approvingly. A tweet from Tibet.net last month shows a video clip of the Tibetan spiritual leader with the child and says the encounter took place during his “meeting with students and members of M3M Foundation,” though Tibet.net’s clip cuts out the sexually inappropriate part of the encounter.

Continue reading Tongue incident a reminder the Dalai Lama is a pawn of US imperialism