Central Tibetan Administration Hosts Symposium in Taipei on Building Common Ground with Key Allies

Taipei: The Snow Land Forum: 2024, titled “Symposium on Finding Common Ground”, organised by the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Taiwan (also called Office of Tibet), was held at National Chengchi University on 23-24 November.

This two-day event focused on the impact of U.S. legislation on Tibet and the prospect of international Tibet policy, addressing Tibet’s position within the shifting global political landscape as China grows increasingly authoritarian under Xi Jinping. The symposium also explored democratic movements in China and its regions like Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, East Turkistan, and Taiwan amidst rising tensions between Western democracies and authoritarian states.

Secretary Ngawa Tsegyam, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama; Political Secretary Tashi Gyatso Shadrong, Cabinet Secretariat; Secretary Karma Choeying, Department of Information and International Relations; Secretary Dawa Tsering, Director of the Tibetan Policy Institute; Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa, Office of Tibet-Taipei; Jamyang Tsering, Editor of the CTA’s Official Chinese Website; Tenzin Phentok, researcher at the Tibet Policy Institute; Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese Liaison Officer Office of Tibet, Washington DC; Sangye Kyab, Chinese Liaison Officer to Europe; Dawa Sangmo, Chinese Liaison Officer to Australia; Dr Gyalo, a Tibetan Sociologist and activist; and others representing Tibetan NGOs attended the symposium from Tibetan side, along with numerous scholars and activists from Tibet’s key allies, namely Chinese pro-democrats, Taiwan, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, and Southern Mongolia.

At the forum’s opening ceremony, Secretary Karma Choeying of the Department of Information and International Relations highlighted that the Central Tibetan Administration has consistently presented Tibet’s factual historical context on the global stage. The Secretary further pointed out that the recent U.S. legislation addressing the Tibet-China conflict not only challenges China’s distortion of Tibetan history but also reinforces strong support for unconditional dialogue between the two sides. Secretary Karma Choeying reaffirmed the Central Tibetan Administration’s firm commitment to resolving the Tibetan-Chinese conflict through dialogue based on the Middle Way Approach policy, emphasising that this policy is a crucial approach that is beneficial for both Tibetans and Chinese in the long term.

The morning session of 23 November discussed “Overview of Tibet’s International Status and U.S. Legislation on Tibet”, which was moderated by Professor Chen Mumin of National Chung Hsing University. The panellists of this session included Representative Kalsang Gyaltsen Bawa, Office of Tibet; Ming Chu-cheng, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at National Taiwan University; and Akio Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank. They discussed the impact of successive U.S. legislations on Tibet and their importance in shaping international support for Tibet.

During the session, Professor Chen emphasised that the Tibet issue is not only a regional concern but an international issue, reflecting the broader trend of identity politics that now drives global conflicts. Representative Kalsang Gyaltsen Bawa highlighted the significance of U.S. legislative actions, such as the “Promoting a Resolution to Tibet-China Dispute Act”, which affirms that Tibet is not part of China and recognises the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people. He added, “This legislation has faced strong criticism from China, yet the international community’s support for Tibet continues to grow.”

CEO Akio Yaita compared the approaches of both political parties of the U.S. and stressed that aligning the interests of both Taiwan and Tibet with the U.S. foreign policy is crucial for their respective causes.

Furthermore, Professor Emeritus Ming Chu-cheng discussed the four main historical aspects of the Tibet cause: human rights, ethnicity, religion, and cultural identity. He criticised China’s lack of respect for human rights, particularly religious freedom, which remains a fundamental concern for many democratic nations. He emphasised that China’s distortion of universal human rights values and the ongoing oppression of Tibetans, including genocide, must be clearly addressed in global discourse and called for greater awareness of Tibet’s unique cultural identity, which he believes is critical not only for Tibetans but for the broader international community.

The afternoon session, titled “International Support for Tibet and CTA’s Chinese Outreach Work”, saw participation from Hung Kuo-chun, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Watchout, and CTA officials. COO Hung pointed out the historical and democratic parallels between Taiwan and Tibet, suggesting that both can learn from each other as they navigate their respective struggles for autonomy and international recognition.

Likewise, Jamyang Tsering, Editor of the CTA’s Official Chinese Website, and Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese Liaison Officer Office of Tibet, Washington DC, noted the growing international attention to Tibet cause, highlighting how global powers, including the U.S., UK, Canada, and Japan, have issued joint statements condemning China’s persecution of Tibetans. Tenzin Phentok, a researcher from the Tibet Policy Institute, explained China’s divisive strategy of geographically separating Tibet into the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and four other Tibetan-inhabited provinces. This division, she argued, seeks to undermine Tibetan unity and brainwash the international community into accepting Chinese sovereignty over Tibet.

Additionally, Sangye Kyab, Chinese Liaison Officer to Europe, shared insights into the evolving attitudes within China, noting that while some Chinese still support the idea of a unified China, younger generations are increasingly supportive of Tibetan self-determination. Dawa Sangmo, Chinese Liaison Officer to Australia, emphasised the importance of strengthening Tibetan-Chinese exchanges and coordination between Tibetan advocacy groups and international governments to further the Tibetan cause.

The session concluded with a call for continued international solidarity and strategic outreach, urging governments to take clear, decisive actions in support of Tibet. Speakers agreed that increased coordination between the Tibetan community and global powers is essential to counter China’s attempts to isolate Tibet and erase its cultural identity.