US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues underlines the critical state of Tibet’s survival

11-10-2022 

Fleur Harmsen

Tibet and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defense.

United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya, held a speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council meetings in Geneva where she stated that Tibet is now facing a “critical moment” for the survival of its religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage as China’s policies increasingly threaten Tibet’s national identity. 

She explained that the installment of a puppet Dalai Lama when the current 87-year-old Dalai Lama dies is at the center of China’s campaign. The Coordinator also explains that China sees the death of Dalia Lama as a significant opportunity to erode international support for Tibet, completing the sinicization of the Tibetan plateau.  

Tibetan traditions hold that senior Buddhists monks are reincarnated in the body of a child after their death. The Dalai Lama has stated that, when he returns through reincarnation, his successor will be born in a country outside of Chinese control. 

Zeya explains in her speech that China’s interference in Tibetan Buddhism has repercussions well beyond Chinese borders. She explains that its practices underline China’s efforts to undermine the universality of the human rights system through “transnational repression”.

She stated that the US will continue to call out Chinese authorities for their treatment of Tibetans and that the US calls for international support in its efforts to change Beijing’s policies in Tibet. 

Uzra Zeya’s speech shows an increased concern of the international community regarding the Chinese occupation in Tibet, pushing China to respect the principles of international law.

Sources and further reading:

Finney, R. (2022, October 07). Tibet at a ‘critical moment’ for survival, top US diplomat says. Radio Free Asia. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/critical-10072022140911.html