Xi Jinping against the backdrop of Tibet and India, reflecting China’s strategic charm offensive toward India while tightening its control over Tibet.
Introduction: Why Tibet Should Be Concerned
As Beijing pushes a fresh wave of diplomacy toward New Delhi amidst rising China–US tensions, Tibetans in exile are watching closely. Reports from BBC News and Reuters confirm that while Chinese officials speak of “strengthening cooperation” with India, Xi Jinping simultaneously deepens projects like the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and reinforces control in Tibet. The question arises: Is this friendship genuine, or just another geopolitical trap?
China’s “Friendship” with India: A Strategic Game, Not Sincere Diplomacy
China’s outreach to India coincides with escalating trade wars and security clashes with the U.S. under Donald Trump. According to The Wire, Beijing is desperately seeking regional allies to offset American pressure.
Yet China cannot be trusted. Its extension of CPEC through disputed territories, its border aggression in Ladakh, and its ongoing crackdown on Tibetans’ language and religion (documented by Radio Free Asia) expose its real intentions. This “friendship” is less about peace and more about geopolitical leverage over India.
Tibet: The Silent Victim of China’s Geopolitical Maneuvers
Tibet remains central to Beijing’s security calculus. Known as the “Water Tower of Asia”, Tibet supplies water to India, Pakistan, and much of Southeast Asia. By controlling Tibet, China holds not only a buffer zone against India but also dominance over vital resources.
Despite public diplomacy, Beijing has shown zero willingness to free Tibet. Instead, its policy of Sinicization—erasing Tibetan culture, banning Tibetan language in schools, and repressing Buddhist practices—continues unabated (RFA).
Xi Jinping’s Tibet Visit: Not a Pilgrimage, but a Show of Power
When Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Tibet, Reuters reported carefully staged applause, curated parades, and propaganda events. For decades, Tibet has been neglected, yet during Xi’s presence, the streets were filled with “celebrations.”
This was not genuine joy. It was a political theatre, signaling to India and the world: “Tibet is ours—no negotiation.” Every photo-op of smiling crowds masked the truth of surveillance, arrests, and cultural erasure that Tibetans endure daily.
Will China Ever Free Tibet? The Hard Reality
Under the Communist Party, Beijing has repeatedly declared Tibet a “core interest” that is non-negotiable. The global community, including India, must recognize that China will not voluntarily free Tibet. Instead, its strategy is to tighten its grip while using friendship with India as a diplomatic smokescreen.
As BBC noted, Tibet’s autonomy has steadily declined since the 1950s, while Beijing projects international “harmony.” For Tibetans, freedom will not be gifted by China—it must be fought for through global advocacy.
Conclusion: India Must Stay Vigilant
While China extends “friendship” to India, its actions—border militarization, CPEC expansion, and Xi’s staged Tibet visit—tell another story. This outreach is not about reconciliation; it is about expanding control and silencing Tibet.
For Tibetans in exile and their supporters worldwide, the message is clear: trusting China is dangerous. India, by sheltering the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamshala, remains the strongest voice keeping Tibet alive on the world stage.