CChinese head of state and party head Xi Jinping Arrived in Tibet on Wednesday. But his visit was so secret that the official media only reported it on Friday. The last time he went there was ten years ago. That was shortly before he reached the top of the party and the country. The ten-year gap is no coincidence. His trip coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Communist army’s occupation of Tibet. At that time, the Tibetan government signed an agreement to place Tibet under the rule of Beijing’s new master. The subsequent uprising was brutally suppressed, and the Dalai Lama went into exile in India in 1959. In China’s political calendar, 1951 is celebrated every year as “peaceful liberation.”
The first stop of Xi Jinping’s trip was Nyingchi City, a strategic location in New Delhi. The train connection from Nyingchi to Lhasa, the regional capital, opened in June. Due to the extremely steep mountain terrain, the construction cost is more than US$5 billion. The railway line is the political symbol of Xi Jinping’s national unity project. He believes that ethnic minorities such as Tibetans should integrate into China’s majority society through cultural assimilation and economic development.
“Renaissance of the Chinese Nation”
According to Xinhua News Agency, the head of state and party heads took a train from Nyingchi to Lhasa, where he was told about “ethnic and religious affairs and protection of the ancient city”. He declared in front of the “Peaceful Liberation” monument in Lhasa: “As long as we follow the Communist Party and follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we will surely achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
An excerpt of his speech was posted on the Internet. Xi Jinping turned to “the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet who are fighting for a better future” and said, “We are as confident as you.” Other videos showed people cheering, waving and applauding on the streets of Lhasa. According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi Jinping inspected the square in front of the Potala Palace. Dalai Lama Once used as a residence, there is the Drepung Monastery, where thousands of monks lived during the period of Tibetan independence. During his visit, he also performed Tibetan dances. According to the understanding of the Communist Party, this is an appreciation of ethnic minority culture.
Mandarin lettering
For many years, Tibetan language teaching and training of Tibetan monks have been restricted. According to news from the exiled opposition, more than 150 monks set themselves on fire in protest. There is very little reliable information about the human rights situation in Tibet. Foreign journalists can only visit the area with special permission, and such permission is rarely granted.
Saturday at 9 a.m.
Human Rights Watch recently reported that the Tibetan language has now been marked in Mandarin on public signs. It was not until last year that the situation was completely opposite. The reason for the innovation was Xi Jinping’s instructions at the Tibet Conference in August last year, at which he announced the policies of “national integration” and “patriotic upbringing”. He is the first current head of state to visit Tibet officially since 1990, which also shows that he attaches great importance to minority policies.
The Chinese government believes that the total economic output of the region has quadrupled in the past ten years. Tourism and infrastructure have been greatly expanded. At the same time, Beijing claims to determine the 86-year-old Dalai Lama’s successor. According to tradition, the Dalai Lama is reincarnated. On the other hand, Beijing regards the current Dalai Lama, who has been in exile in India since 1959, as a separatist because he advocates autonomy in Tibet.
