Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Tibet, emphasising Beijing’s determination to assert control over the region on its 60th anniversary as a Chinese autonomous region. Speaking to a crowd of 20,000 in Lhasa, Xi highlighted the political importance of the visit amid ongoing tensions over the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Notably, he did not mention the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader revered by Tibetans, but said that Tibetan Buddhism needed to change.
On the 60th anniversary, it seems China is doing everything possible to tighten its grip on Tibet. Earlier this month, Beijing announced its plans to build a massive railway line linking Tibet and northwestern Xinjiang.
In his address in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, Xi stressed, “To govern, stabilise and develop Tibet, the first thing is to maintain political stability, social stability, ethnic unity and religious harmony,” signalling his focus on consolidating authority in the region.
The Tibet visit was also a health test for the 72-year-old Chinese President, because of the high-altitude conditions in Lhasa.
