Lhasa
China has recently opened the ‘Tibet International Communication Center’ in Lhasa, aiming to further control the global narrative on Tibet. This move is part of China’s ongoing strategy to influence international opinions about the region, according to the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
The ICT views the establishment of this center as a significant boost to China’s propaganda efforts. The organization believes that China is increasing its attempts to dominate global discussions with its own narrative about Tibet. The ICT’s report, released earlier this year, noted that China has been using various tactics to reshape Tibet’s portrayal in international discourse since its invasion and occupation of Tibet in 1959.
The new center follows a ‘Roundtable Meeting on Building an Effective International Communication System for Tibet,’ organized by the Propaganda Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee and the China Foreign Language Bureau. It reflects the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) broader strategy to control Tibet’s image and replace the internationally recognized name ‘Tibet’ with the sinicized term ‘Xizang.’
The ICT report warns that such centers could be used to marginalize Tibetan voices and obscure ongoing oppression in Tibet. It predicts that China will continue to use state-controlled media platforms to spread its narrative and further suppress alternative perspectives.
