A Tibetan singer, A-Sang, who was detained twice in 2025, most recently in August for his performance and broadcast of a song commemorating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, was released from detention on 25 January 25.
A source confirmed his release to the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) but was unable to provide details about his health condition and specific circumstances. Additionally, ICT learned that the Chinese government has strictly forbidden A-Sang from speaking about his imprisonment or posting information on social media platforms.
Based on a video that he and his wife Lhamo posted on the social media platform Kuaishou on 26 January 2026, A-Sang appears to be in good health. In that video, A-Sang said that the past circumstances cannot be fully explained on social media, and that he will soon release his second music album online, entitled “Dream’s Edge” (རྨི་ལམ་གྱི་ཁ་སྟབས), which has been three years in the making.
A-Sang apologized to his parents for causing them difficulties, and he apologized to and thanked his wife Lhamo for the many hardships she endured during his absence. Since A-Sang’s video was shared on social media, many Tibetans inside Tibet have been enthusiastically sending congratulations and welcoming messages for his release.
On 8 July 2025, A-Sang was arrested by the Public Security Bureau in Ngaba County and accused of posting a cover of the song “Prince of Peace” to his Kuaishou account in commemoration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. The song, which was originally sung by Tibetan artist Sher Ten, featured the lyrics:
“Born in Amdo,
having set foot in central Tibet,
whose activities are sustained from India,
missing you, the Prince of Peace.”
A-Sang previously had published many songs related to the Tibetan cause, including songs about Tibetan unity and the protection and preservation of the Tibetan language and script.
ICT welcomes A-Sang’s release from detention but notes that the Chinese government continues to impose numerous restrictions on his artistic activities. ICT Executive Director Ryan Fioresi said, “A-Sang has been given a non-release release as the Chinese authorities continue to place severe restrictions on him. The arbitrary detention of young artists and minds like A-Sang is a desperate practice employed by paranoid and fragile States. It in no way resembles a ‘so-called’ global power that China claims to be.”
Originally from Kashul (Ch: Kaxiu) Village in the Barma (Ch: Baima) Township, Ngaba County, A-Sang is a popular young Tibetan singer with 200,000 followers on Kuaishou (a video sharing platform). As a result of his arrest, both A-Sang and his wife’s Kuaishou accounts were de-activated.