A Tibetan Activist Set Himself on Fire Outside the U.N.—and United His Cause Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation galvanizes a global movement that had become fractured and discouraged By James T. Areddy Aug. 5, 2026 For New York City activists who support Tibet’s independence, it was unusual that a movement stalwart, Lobga Rangzen, didn’t join a major protest march...
When the People’s Republic of China was founded, in 1949, it was explicitly a multinational state. Although Han Chinese make up more than 90 percent of the country’s population, China’s constitution and subsequent laws grant minority nationalities autonomy in specific regions and promise them collective agency as “masters of their own homes.” For decades, the...
KENJI KAWASE July 1, 2026 12:55 JST TOKYO — A new law for “ethnic unity” took effect in China on Wednesday, raising concerns among Beijing’s critics about renewed pressure on the country’s minority communities as well as how the legislation’s claims of extraterritorial jurisdiction might be applied. The “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress,”...
We mourn the passing of Robert A. F. Thurman, a peerless scholar of Buddhism, fearless champion of the Tibetan cause, and genuine friend of the Tibetan people. Bob was one of the great pillars of the Tibetan freedom movement. His unwavering support for the Tibetan cause, particularly his friendship and collaboration with Tibet Action Institute...
‘They have built a machine that pulls out their mother tongue’: why Tibet’s children ‘think they are Chinese’Parents say the insistence on Mandarin in schools is eroding the Tibetan language and culture right from early childhood By Kris Cheng Weeks after a Tibetan-speaking five-year-old started preschool, she had “completely stopped speaking Tibetan”, according to her...
The World Hannah Chanatry A new law in China will promote “ethnic unity,” making it compulsory to use Mandarin in schools, government and other public-facing activities. The World’s Host Marco Werman speaks with Lhadon Tethong, director of the Tibetan Action Institute, about what this means for the ethnic minority groups in China. Article Link:...
