In recent years, the Chinese government has tightened its control of Tibetan Buddhism, which it sees as a threat to the Chinese state because it is an expression of a distinct Tibetan identity, and because Buddhist institutions have the potential to unify and empower individuals outside the Party state.
Under President Xi Jinping in particular, Tibetan Buddhism has been the main target of proactive policies aimed at “Sinicizing” religion, meaning to shape religion to the diktats of the Chinese Communist Party for political purposes. To do so, the Chinese government has created an authorised catalogue of verified ‘living Buddhas’, halved the 10,000 resident population of the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, increased “political re-education” campaigns for monks and nuns, and formal training for Tibetan Buddhist teachers and cadres posted to monasteries. In addition, the authorities have adopted a number of laws and measures equating ‘terrorism’ with an undefined ‘extremism’ linked to religion, thereby creating a more dangerous political environment for monks, nuns and lay Buddhists.
At the same time, small acts of religious freedom – including worship of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama – are still criminalized in most parts of Tibet. Restrictions on religious practices have been placed on government workers, with many threatened with losing their identity cards, social benefits and jobs, and controls on children participating in religious activities have been strengthened. As part of its objective to contain and control Tibetan Buddhism, the Chinese state has also indicated plans to appoint its own reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama, in total contravention to Buddhist religious tradition and the fundamental right of Tibetan Buddhist communities to follow their own spiritual process without government interference.
Related news and resources
Tibetans inside Tibet face severe risks in celebrating birthday of Dalai Lama
As the 14th Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday and Tibetans, Tibetan Buddhists, and supporters around the world are preparing to celebrate the life and legacy of the exiled spiritual leader, a new ICT report shows how Tibetans in Tibet face severe risks for doing the same.
ICT urges UNESCO to designate Potala Palace Ensemble as “World Heritage in Danger” amid cultural heritage violations in Tibet
The International Campaign for Tibet is calling on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to designate the “Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace” in Lhasa, Tibet, as a World Heritage Site in Danger during its upcoming 47th session in July 2025
Monastic schools in Ngaba targeted amid crackdown on Tibetan-language education
In yet another assault on Tibetan language in eastern Tibet, Chinese authorities have forcibly removed younger monks from the Taktsang Lhamo Monastic School and pressed them into state-run schools over recent months.