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Developing nations face ‘tidal wave’ of debt repayments to China in 2025: report
China’s role in developing countries’ finances has transformed from capital provider to chief debt collector as a “tidal wave” of repayments due on loans Beijing extended under its Belt and Road Initiative far outstrip new disbursements, a new report by an Australian think tank showed.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing has disbursed over $1 trillion in loans to more than 150 countries to build a network of roads, airports, railways, telecommunication networks, and seaports to co...
Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing has disbursed over $1 trillion in loans to more than 150 countries to build a network of roads, airports, railways, telecommunication networks, and seaports to co...
South Africa downgrades Taiwan status, signaling more China influence, say experts
In a sign of China’s expanding international influence, South Africa has downgraded the status of Taiwan’s liaison office in the country, further diminishing the democratic island’s diplomatic footprint, experts say.
South Africa severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 and recognized Beijing as the government of China. But in the nearly three decades since, it has retained unofficial ties with Taipei and a trading relationship.
However, it’s recently moved to diminish Taiwan’s unoff...
South Africa severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 and recognized Beijing as the government of China. But in the nearly three decades since, it has retained unofficial ties with Taipei and a trading relationship.
However, it’s recently moved to diminish Taiwan’s unoff...
Global press freedom ebbs to a new low
Updated May 2, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET
BANGKOK and WASHINGTON – Press freedom is at its lowest ebb globally in more than two decades, Reporters Without Borders said Friday, as economic pressures shake the foundations of journalism.
The advocacy group, also known as Reporters sans frontières or RSF, said it classified the global state of press freedom as “difficult” for the first time since it began compiling its media index in 2002.
“Without economic independence, there can be no free press,” RSF...
BANGKOK and WASHINGTON – Press freedom is at its lowest ebb globally in more than two decades, Reporters Without Borders said Friday, as economic pressures shake the foundations of journalism.
The advocacy group, also known as Reporters sans frontières or RSF, said it classified the global state of press freedom as “difficult” for the first time since it began compiling its media index in 2002.
“Without economic independence, there can be no free press,” RSF...
China doubles estimate for people affected in Tibet quake to 120,000
Chinese authorities are now reporting that more than 120,000 people -- twice their previous estimate -- were affected in the deadly earthquake that shook the region in January and killed at least 126 people.
Previously, they had said 60,000 were affected by the 7.1-magnitude quake that struck Jan. 7 in Dingri county of Shigatse prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, close to the border with Nepal.
The increase suggests that damage from the quake was more extensive than previously reported....
Previously, they had said 60,000 were affected by the 7.1-magnitude quake that struck Jan. 7 in Dingri county of Shigatse prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, close to the border with Nepal.
The increase suggests that damage from the quake was more extensive than previously reported....
Thousands rally against China’s ‘mega-embassy’ in London
Updated Feb. 09, 2025, 12:28 a.m. ET
LONDON - Waving flags and carrying placards, protesters representing Tibetan, Uyghur, Chinese and Hong Kong rights groups rallied on Saturday against China’s proposed ‘mega-embassy’ in London, voicing fears that Beijing would use the building to harass and monitor dissidents living abroad.
Organizers said around 4,000 people joined the protest at the proposed site of the embassy at the historic former Royal Mint Court – near the Tower of London – just days...
LONDON - Waving flags and carrying placards, protesters representing Tibetan, Uyghur, Chinese and Hong Kong rights groups rallied on Saturday against China’s proposed ‘mega-embassy’ in London, voicing fears that Beijing would use the building to harass and monitor dissidents living abroad.
Organizers said around 4,000 people joined the protest at the proposed site of the embassy at the historic former Royal Mint Court – near the Tower of London – just days...
INTERVIEW: US needs to recognize China’s genocide in Tibet
Read RFA coverage of this story in Tibetan.
Sam Brownback, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, has urged the American government to recognize China’s actions in Tibet as genocide and to oppose Beijing’s efforts to control the Dalai Lama’s succession, he told Radio Free Asia in an interview.
Brownback also called for banning any form of Chinese Communist Party lobbying in the U.S. capital.
The Chinese government has stepped up its repressive rule in Tibet in...
Sam Brownback, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, has urged the American government to recognize China’s actions in Tibet as genocide and to oppose Beijing’s efforts to control the Dalai Lama’s succession, he told Radio Free Asia in an interview.
Brownback also called for banning any form of Chinese Communist Party lobbying in the U.S. capital.
The Chinese government has stepped up its repressive rule in Tibet in...
US coordinator highlights Tibet’s role as regional freshwater source
A U.S. official who handles Tibetan issues has called for information sharing about environmental changes taking place in Tibetan areas of China to help scientists prepare for climate change.
Uzra Zeya, the U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan issues, emphasized the critical role of the Tibetan Plateau in advancing global water security in virtual remarks given on Saturday to the World Water Week 2024 conference in Stockholm.
Zeya highlighted the negative effects of the increase in Chinese hyd...
Uzra Zeya, the U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan issues, emphasized the critical role of the Tibetan Plateau in advancing global water security in virtual remarks given on Saturday to the World Water Week 2024 conference in Stockholm.
Zeya highlighted the negative effects of the increase in Chinese hyd...
China’s efforts to boost Tibet’s economy benefit Han population, report says
A Chinese government measure to boost the economy and improve the business environment of the Tibet Autonomous Region will benefit the large and growing Han population there, while Tibetans face increased economic marginalization, according to a new think-tank report.
Chinese officials have doubled down on expanding existing economic and technology development zones, or ETDZs, in Tibet, says a July 26 report by the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington think tank.
The zones are in keeping with th...
Chinese officials have doubled down on expanding existing economic and technology development zones, or ETDZs, in Tibet, says a July 26 report by the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington think tank.
The zones are in keeping with th...
Biden signs bill urging China to resume talks over Tibet
President Joe Biden on Friday signed into law a bill that urges China to resume talks with the Dalai Lama or his representatives to arrive at a “negotiated agreement on Tibet” as he reiterated that the measure did not represent a change in U.S. policy.
"I share the Congress's bipartisan commitment to advancing the human rights of Tibetans and supporting efforts to preserve their distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage," Biden said in a July 12 statement.
The legislation, which pas...
"I share the Congress's bipartisan commitment to advancing the human rights of Tibetans and supporting efforts to preserve their distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage," Biden said in a July 12 statement.
The legislation, which pas...
Defying China, US lawmakers meet with Dalai Lama
Defying a warning from China, a delegation of U.S. lawmakers met with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, in northern India, on Wednesday, telling the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader that the recent passage of U.S. legislation is a major step toward ensuring the self-determination of the Tibetan people.
Led by Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bipartisan delegation also visited the Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, the Tibetan govern...
Led by Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bipartisan delegation also visited the Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, the Tibetan govern...
EU officials to make rare Tibet visit to examine human rights
European Union officials are scheduled to make a rare visit starting this weekend to the Tibet Autonomous Region during their annual human rights talks with China, an EU spokesperson told Radio Free Asia.
Although it isn’t clear how much access the officials will ultimately be granted, the spokesperson, Peter Stano, told RFA that the EU has put forth “concrete proposals” for the places the delegation would like to see, including boarding schools, prisons and places of worship.
“We have request...
Although it isn’t clear how much access the officials will ultimately be granted, the spokesperson, Peter Stano, told RFA that the EU has put forth “concrete proposals” for the places the delegation would like to see, including boarding schools, prisons and places of worship.
“We have request...
Congress passes bill urging China to resolve Tibet dispute
Updated at 21:35 ET on June 12, 2024.
The U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed a bill urging Beijing to re-engage with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their dispute over the status and governance of Tibet.
The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, also known as the Resolve Tibet Act, passed the House of Representatives 391-26 and now heads to President Joe Biden for a signature to become law.
The bill previously passed the House in February but was...
The U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed a bill urging Beijing to re-engage with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their dispute over the status and governance of Tibet.
The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, also known as the Resolve Tibet Act, passed the House of Representatives 391-26 and now heads to President Joe Biden for a signature to become law.
The bill previously passed the House in February but was...
US Senate unanimously passes bill urging China to resolve Tibet dispute
UPDATED at 3:20 P.M. ET on 05-24-2024
The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill urging the Chinese government to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama or Tibetan leaders, without any preconditions, to resolve the China-Tibet dispute.
The bipartisan Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act notes that the dispute between Tibet and China must be resolved in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter, by peaceful means and through dialogue.
T...
The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill urging the Chinese government to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama or Tibetan leaders, without any preconditions, to resolve the China-Tibet dispute.
The bipartisan Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act notes that the dispute between Tibet and China must be resolved in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter, by peaceful means and through dialogue.
T...
Tibetan political leader meets with French President Macron
Just days ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, the democratically elected head of the Tibetan government-in-exile met with French President Emmanuel Macron during an award ceremony in Paris.
The visit marked the first meeting of a Tibetan elected leader with the head of a state of a major Western democratic nation.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, head of Dharamsala, India-based Central Tibetan Administration, met Macron at a ceremony to award the Legion of Honour to former French se...
The visit marked the first meeting of a Tibetan elected leader with the head of a state of a major Western democratic nation.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, head of Dharamsala, India-based Central Tibetan Administration, met Macron at a ceremony to award the Legion of Honour to former French se...
Wildfire destroys prized mushrooms, income source for Tibetans
A recent wildfire in a Tibetan-populated area of China’s Sichuan province ravaged vast swathes of forests covered with pine and oak trees that nurtured a hidden treasure and an economic lifeline for residents — matsutake mushrooms.
The wildfire that broke out in March in Nyagchu county, or Yajiang in Chinese, in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, forced 3,000 people from the traditional Kham region of Tibet to evacuate the area and burned down several houses. No human casualties have been re...
The wildfire that broke out in March in Nyagchu county, or Yajiang in Chinese, in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, forced 3,000 people from the traditional Kham region of Tibet to evacuate the area and burned down several houses. No human casualties have been re...
Sri Lankans present rare Buddha relics to the Dalai Lama
A delegation of Sri Lankan Buddhists on Thursday presented relics of the Buddha to the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamsala, India, in a gesture that was celebrated by hundreds of Tibetans who lined the streets with silk scarves and flowers.
The relics – fragments of the Buddha’s bones and teeth – have immense historical and spiritual significance, connecting Buddhist worshippers to the legacy of Buddha, a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE an...
The relics – fragments of the Buddha’s bones and teeth – have immense historical and spiritual significance, connecting Buddhist worshippers to the legacy of Buddha, a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE an...
Invest in Tibet and give your child a leg up on college exams
UPDATED at 7:22 P.M. ET on 03-27-2024
To lure more investment to Tibet, Chinese authorities have announced a sweetener to would-be investors: Move your family to the region, spend three years there and invest 3 million yuan (US$415,000) – and your teenage children will have a better chance of gaining entry to a good university.
Every June, millions of Chinese high school students take the grueling "gaokao" college entrance exams, but the admissions scores to the country's 1,200 universities va...
To lure more investment to Tibet, Chinese authorities have announced a sweetener to would-be investors: Move your family to the region, spend three years there and invest 3 million yuan (US$415,000) – and your teenage children will have a better chance of gaining entry to a good university.
Every June, millions of Chinese high school students take the grueling "gaokao" college entrance exams, but the admissions scores to the country's 1,200 universities va...
Revered and feared: Asia’s authoritarian states censor and mistreat poets
Six Myanmar poets have been killed by the junta that seized power in a 2021 military coup. In China and Vietnam, bards are locked away for political crimes. A prominent translator of Tibetan poetry says he worries about the many authors who’ve disappeared without a trace.
This year's World Poetry Day appears to offer little to celebrate across a region where popular reverence for poets sits uneasily with the censorship and repression of ruling communist and military governments that are hostile...
This year's World Poetry Day appears to offer little to celebrate across a region where popular reverence for poets sits uneasily with the censorship and repression of ruling communist and military governments that are hostile...
More than 3,000 Tibetans evacuated as wildfire rages in Sichuan province
More than 3,300 people have been evacuated as a wildfire spreads through a Tibetan-populated county in China’s Sichuan province, Chinese state media and three people with knowledge of the situation said Monday.
The fire, which began on the evening of March 15 on the slopes of a mountain near Petse village, forced Tibetans from about a dozen villages in three areas of Nyagchu county, or Yajiang in Chinese, to leave their homes.
The county lies in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the trad...
The fire, which began on the evening of March 15 on the slopes of a mountain near Petse village, forced Tibetans from about a dozen villages in three areas of Nyagchu county, or Yajiang in Chinese, to leave their homes.
The county lies in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the trad...
Three years on, whereabouts of Tibetan poet is a mystery
More than three years after the arrest of a popular Tibetan writer and poet in northwestern China, police have not provided any details about his whereabouts, his sentence or his well-being, despite repeated appeals by his family for information, two sources told Radio Free Asia.
Gendun Lhundrub, a former monk at Rongwo Monastery in Rebgong county of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China's Qinghai province, was detained on Dec. 2, 2020.
Authorities did not cite any reasons for his arres...
Gendun Lhundrub, a former monk at Rongwo Monastery in Rebgong county of Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China's Qinghai province, was detained on Dec. 2, 2020.
Authorities did not cite any reasons for his arres...
Rallies held around the globe for Tibetan Uprising Day
Thousands marched in rallies around the world on Sunday and more than 2,100 towns – mostly across Europe – hoisted the Tibetan flag to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising against China.
March 10 commemorates the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule, when thousands were killed, and Tibetans have used the day to honor their courage, press China to stop its repression of Tibetans and voice their hope for a homeland where they can live freely.
In Dharamsala, India – home of the Dalai L...
March 10 commemorates the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule, when thousands were killed, and Tibetans have used the day to honor their courage, press China to stop its repression of Tibetans and voice their hope for a homeland where they can live freely.
In Dharamsala, India – home of the Dalai L...
After protest, Tibetan monastery leader and village official sent to detention center
UPDATED at 4:47 P.M. ET on 03-25-2024
Authorities have transferred a Tibetan Buddhist monastery administrator and a village official – both arrested last month on suspicion of leading protests against the construction of a dam – to a large detention center in southwestern China's Sichuan province, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Radio Free Asia.
Tenzin Sangpo, the senior administrator of Wonto Monastery in Wangbuding township, and a village official named Tenzin, were transfer...
Authorities have transferred a Tibetan Buddhist monastery administrator and a village official – both arrested last month on suspicion of leading protests against the construction of a dam – to a large detention center in southwestern China's Sichuan province, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Radio Free Asia.
Tenzin Sangpo, the senior administrator of Wonto Monastery in Wangbuding township, and a village official named Tenzin, were transfer...
Despite Chinese pressure, NJ township raises Tibetan flag for Tibetan New Year
When the mayor of a New Jersey township accepted a request from a resident to fly the Tibetan flag on the eve of the Tibetan New Year, he had no inkling it would attract the attention of the Chinese government.
Nor did he anticipate that Belleville township – population of about 40,000 – would suddenly become the subject of international news.
But that’s exactly what unfolded, Mayor Michael Melham told Radio Free Asia after he rejected an emailed request by Ambassador Huang Ping, consul genera...
Nor did he anticipate that Belleville township – population of about 40,000 – would suddenly become the subject of international news.
But that’s exactly what unfolded, Mayor Michael Melham told Radio Free Asia after he rejected an emailed request by Ambassador Huang Ping, consul genera...
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