In early August, Chinese authorities released popular young Tibetan singer, A-Sang, according to a source who is close to the singer. However, after his release, local public security officials placed him under constant surveillance and are restricting him from live-streaming or communicating on Chinese social media.
On 8 July 8, soon after His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday[1], Chinese security authorities from Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County Public Security Bureau, Sichuan Province, had arrested A-Sang after he performed a cover of the song titled “Prince of Peace,” originally sung by Tibetan artist Sher Ten. The song references His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the following lyrics:
“Born in Amdo,
having set foot in central Tibet,
whose activities are sustained from India,
missing you, the Prince of Peace.”
A-Sang is a popular young singer from Kashul Village, Barma Township, Ngaba County, Tibet, with over 30,000 followers on Kuaishou, a Chinese social media platform.
A-Sang and his wife (Source: Anonymous)
The source close to the singer also noted that A-Sang’s wife posted a message on Kuaishou, saying, “We’re here to report that we’re safe. Thank you to our fans for caring about us over the past two months. We’ll be back online soon.” Despite this, the two accounts with the largest followings belonging to A-Sang and his wife have both been shut down by Chinese authorities in connection with his arrest.
This year, despite strict Chinese controls, Tibetans inside Tibet celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday in various ways on social media. For example, a woman from Dzoge, Tibet, arranged a portrait of the Dalai Lama in her home and posted a message on social media: “Today marks the auspicious and special 90th birthday of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama. I offer countless congratulations and good wishes on His Holiness’s birthday. May His Holiness live for tens of thousands of years! May His Holiness be able to return to Tibet quickly!” Other Tibetans also celebrated the birthday in the face of the oppressive Chinese crackdown by posting images and symbolic expressions on social media.
“A-Sang’s detention and restricted release for singing a song expressing respect and longing for the Dalai Lama highlights the underling fragility of Chinese rule in Tibet,” said ICT President Tencho Gyatso. “Such repressive tactics are required in tandem with high-profile staged political visits – like Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Tibet –to construct the illusion of wide-reaching public support for Communist Party rule.”[2]
Footnotes:
[1] International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), July 11, 2025, In Tibet, heightened security and intimidation surround the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. https://savetibet.org/in-tibet-heightened-security-and-intimidation-surround-the-dalai-lamas-90th-birthday/
[2] ICT, August 20, 2025, Xi Jinping in Lhasa, amid apparent lack of confidence in CCP’s rule over Tibet, https://savetibet.org/xi-jinping-in-lhasa-amid-apparent-lack-of-confidence-in-ccps-rule-over-tibet/