Xi Jinping Becomes First Chinese President to Attend Controversial Anniversary Celebrations in Tibet

Published: 22 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

In a rare and closely watched visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping travelled to Tibet on Wednesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, becoming the first Chinese leader to personally attend the once-a-decade celebrations. His presence underscored Beijing’s determination to tighten its grip on the restive Himalayan region while projecting an image of unity and progress to both domestic and international audiences.

State-run media reported that Xi was welcomed in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, by crowds of different ethnic groups who waved flowers and performed traditional dances to what was described as “joyful rhythms.” From the outset, Xi framed his trip as an effort to advance his vision of building what he called a “modern socialist Tibet” – one that is “united, prosperous, civilised, harmonious and beautiful.”

During his address, Xi placed strong emphasis on strengthening political control, tightening oversight of religious affairs, and ensuring that Tibetan Buddhism adapts to what he termed “socialist society.” He argued that the stability of Tibet depends on prioritising “political order, social stability, ethnic unity and religious harmony.” The Chinese president also urged local officials to instil loyalty to the Communist Party across all ethnic groups, stating that “we must unremittingly use the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics to unite the hearts and minds of the people.”

The timing of Xi’s visit is significant, coinciding with growing uncertainty about the future of Tibetan Buddhism amid concerns over the health and eventual succession of the 14th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, continues to symbolise Tibetan identity and resistance, despite Beijing’s portrayal of him as a separatist. While he has consistently called for genuine autonomy within China rather than full independence, the Chinese government views his influence as a challenge to its authority.

Since the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965 under Mao Zedong, Beijing’s policies in Tibet have been characterised by waves of repression. These included the destruction of monasteries, imprisonment of monks, and the dilution of Tibetan cultural identity. More recently, human rights groups have highlighted mass migration of Han Chinese settlers into Tibet, restrictions on foreign visitors, the placement of Tibetan children in Mandarin-only boarding schools, and the suppression of political and cultural expression outside Beijing’s control.

Critics argue that repression has become more entrenched since the crackdown on protests in 2008, even as China touts its achievements in reducing poverty and building large-scale infrastructure. Xi used the occasion of his second visit to Tibet as president to promote major projects such as the $167 billion Yarlung Tsangpo mega-dam and the ambitious Sichuan-Tibet railway, which Beijing claims will boost economic development through agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. For Xi, these projects carry not only economic significance but also strategic importance, aimed at reinforcing central control while extending China’s influence across Asia.

International reaction to the visit has been sharp. Rights groups and Tibetan exile organisations condemned the anniversary celebrations, describing them as an attempt to mask decades of repression. Tencho Gyatso, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, said the spectacle reflected “China’s deep insecurity in Tibet and the need to perform leadership and assert their authority.” He further criticised Beijing for attempting to erase Tibet’s identity, including its campaign to replace the name “Tibet” with the Mandarin term “Xizang.”

Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, an official from the Dalai Lama’s office in India, told The New York Times that Xi’s presence was a bid to “legitimise its occupation of Tibet” at a time when the Dalai Lama has reaffirmed that his successor will be chosen according to Tibetan tradition, rejecting Beijing’s attempts to impose its own choice. Dorjee Tseten, Asia Program Manager at the Tibet Action Institute and a member of Tibet’s exile Parliament, echoed this view, describing the anniversary as a “painful reminder of China’s colonial occupation” rather than a cause for celebration.

For Beijing, the visit allowed Xi to project strength and stability at home, portraying Tibet as an integral part of the Chinese state. Yet for Tibetans inside and outside the region, the anniversary underscored the profound divisions that persist between official narratives of development and progress, and lived realities of cultural suppression and political control. As Tibet remains one of China’s most sensitive and contested issues, Xi’s unprecedented appearance at the anniversary both highlights Beijing’s confidence and reveals its continuing anxieties over its hold on the plateau.