Xi Jinping Visits Tibet, Calls for Changes in Tibetan Buddhism Amid China’s Tightening Control

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently visited Tibet, marking a rare trip to the region on the 60th anniversary of its establishment as a Chinese autonomous region. Speaking to around 20,000 people in Lhasa, Xi highlighted the political importance of the visit amid ongoing tensions over Chinese rule in Tibet. He did not mention the Dalai Lama but called for Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to change. The trip comes as China pushes large projects, including a new railway connecting Tibet with Xinjiang, and Xi stressed the need for political stability, social harmony, and ethnic unity. At 72, Xi faced the challenges of Lhasa’s high altitude, and he praised local officials for their efforts against separatism. Rights groups said the visit aimed to cover up China’s human rights record, while Tibetans see the anniversary as a reminder of China’s control, not a celebration, according to Dorjee Tseten of the Tibet Action Institute.

Visit Follows Dalai Lama’s Comments on Successor 

Two months prior to Xi's visit, the Dalai Lama had said that his office, not China, would select his successor.China maintains that only it is entitled to supervise the procedure. At 90, the Dalai Lama still promotes a ‘middle way’ approach for Tibet self-rule within China but Beijing labels him a separatist. Tibet expert Robert Barnett told the media that the succession is mainly symbolic for China and not a real threat. He claimed that beyond the succession dispute, Xi's visit demonstrates China's larger objective of establishing authority over Tibet.

Tibetan Buddhism and Social Control

“China says Tibetans can practise their religion freely, but human rights groups warn that their culture and traditions are at risk. Monks at a Sichuan Tibetan monastery alleged abuse and oppression in June. Beijing rejects these claims, saying living standards for Tibetans have improved under Chinese rule. In recent years, Tibet has seen large-scale migration of Han Chinese, tight restrictions on journalists and foreigners, and suppression of political or cultural activities not approved by the Communist Party. In 1965, six years after a failed Tibetan rebellion, the Tibet Autonomous Region, known as Xizang in China was created.

State media focused heavily on Xi’s visit, showing him welcomed by Tibetan dancers and cheering crowds. “In meetings with local officials, Xi pushed for more economic, cultural, and educational exchanges, promoted Mandarin, and stressed tighter control over religious affairs. Additionally, he called on Tibetan Buddhism to change to fit in with communist society.

Major Development Projects Highlighted

Xi’s trip coincided with the construction of the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, called the Motuo Hydropower Station. Set to be bigger than the Three Gorges Dam, it could produce three times more electricity. Beijing says the project will protect the environment and boost local prosperity, but experts worry it could give China control over rivers flowing into India and Bangladesh. A new Tibet-Xinjiang railway at Aksai Chin, which is near the Indian border, was also announced by China.Tibetan exiles claim that Xi's visit demonstrates that the administration still lacks local support. Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa of the Dalai Lama’s office called it an attempt to “legitimise its occupation of Tibet”, especially after the Dalai Lama insisted on choosing his successor traditionally. Xi’s visit mixed symbolic events and major development projects, showing China’s push to tighten its control over Tibet.