We want a peaceful solution to the ‘China-Tibet’ conflict: Sikyong Penpa Tsering

Tsering, who was sworn in on May 27 after being re-elected as Sikyong, told HT in an exclusive interview that the Tibetan leadership still has back-channel contacts with China and these will continue, although the communications are irrelevant for now. He also called for engaging the world community to focus on a “middle path” of greater autonomy for Tibet. Edited excerpts:

What are your priorities and focus areas for your second term as Sikyong?

We have three main tasks for the next five years. One, try to find a solution to the China-Tibet conflict. If you look at the policies of the communist system in Beijing, it doesn’t seem like there’s much room for it. We have some back channels that we always refer to but nothing consequential. Until a sensible leadership comes to Beijing and resolves the China-Tibet conflict in a non-violent way that will be permanent, we will have to reach out to the international community. We’re talking about the middle way, trying to find genuine autonomy between Tibet’s historical status as an independent state and the occupied Tibet of today under the repressive communist government. A de facto autonomy, because Tibet is already called the Tibet Autonomous Region. We must achieve recognition for Tibet’s historical status as an independent state, so that China can be forced to negotiate with us, achieve value and find a middle path.

Second, unlike other exile communities, we have to take care of the welfare of the Tibetan communities in India and Nepal and ensure that the unity of Tibetans spread across more than 28 countries remains intact. We have a lot of infrastructure work to complete, mainly public infrastructure, schools, hospitals and governance offices. This would be another step towards greater stability of the Tibetan movement. We will take care of the poor, the destitute and the old – this is (the Dalai Lama’s) advice – and build leadership within the younger generation of Tibetans. We will continue to strive to bring vibrancy to the compact communities, “Small Tibet” in various states of India. This will increase the sustainability of the movement in the long run.

Three, to do all this we need to increase the efficiency of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala and our offices wherever there are overseas Tibetan communities. We have moved towards e-governance to suit our circumstances. Now we will move towards AI-assisted governance. We have never lagged behind in using technology, we will move towards those tools to achieve these objectives.

What is the status of back channel contacts with China?

It is ongoing and everyone claims that it is an important channel and will be useful when the time is right. They (Chinese) don’t want us to even say that back channel is running, this is the Chinese way of working. But we can’t lie about it. If we are asked questions, I cannot lie about this.

(back channel) is active until they want to stop. We have no intention of stopping. But as I keep saying, it’s irrelevant right now because of the environment in China. At present, unless the top leadership decides something, the middle level and lower level hesitate to do anything. Because at this time, no one knows whether they will be praised or beaten for what they do. There is some level of inertia in the bureaucracy, which will also harm the Chinese administration.

Your second term begins at a time when the US administration is trying to rebalance relations with China, and India and China are trying to reset their ties after the problems in the Galwan Valley. Have these developments affected the issue of Tibet?

As we move towards global politics, we have not seen much change. I think any party that is engaging with another party primarily as an opponent is always looking for leverage and issues that may be beneficial in the process of putting their interest first. So we too can unite in this process. Both India and America are democratic, free countries, unlike China, which is autocratic. This is the basic difference. If real progress is to occur, there must be trust between leaders or nations. Without trust, it is very difficult to move forward in the long term. Due to evolving global political and economic conditions, countries may have to resort to strategic approaches that serve their immediate interests.

How much has the Trump administration’s decision to close USAID affected the Tibetan people? Will you raise this issue during your visit to America this month?

This is one of the reasons why we need a little more clarity about how we are going to cooperate, cooperate and work together under the assistance of the US Congress’s appropriations. It has already been decided that USAID will close by the end of September. There will be a new mechanism to monitor foreign aid that is retained or that the Trump administration decides to give to countries or people. When these big changes happen and there is a shortage of staff at the US State Department, everything impacts the system, which has to develop a structure to oversee all these programs. It is taking a while but we are lucky because the US government decided to give half the grant back to the Tibetans last year.

Has the deployment of US Ambassador Sergio Gore as special envoy to the region helped in any way?

We are seeing continued engagements, whether it is our visit to Washington or the visit to the State Department or the embassy visit to Dharamshala. It has been increasing for the last few years. As Ambassador Gore in Delhi, Charge d’Affaires for Central and South Asia, and President Trump’s Special Envoy, it adds value to this relationship and the appointment of Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes, Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, comes early in the second year of Trump’s second term. Done in the first session, fourth year. The messages that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sent on various occasions have been very consistent in his support for Tibet. Most US funding has been cut in many parts of the world. We are one of the few that managed to keep half intact and we managed to put some funding into the 2026 appropriations that go into effect October 1st. If you look at all this, despite the ups and downs between China and the US, their positions are consistent. It is a challenge for us to survive in the extremely turbulent political storms going on.

Can you give an update on the Dalai Lama’s health after his surgery? With China insisting that it will decide on their reincarnation, what is the latest on the matter?

There has been a slight decline in (the Dalai Lama’s) health since Covid due to inactivity. His Holiness underwent surgery on his right knee in the US and it took some time for him to recover. The surgery on his left knee has been very successful. Over the past several months and years, His Holiness has said that as long as I am fit, I will continue to serve humanity.

Even as he is about to turn 91, he still meets 350 to 500 people from around the world every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Over the past few months, we have seen him increasing his public footfall every day except Sunday. Therefore his health is going absolutely fine. The Chinese government doesn’t need to ask us questions about his health because every time His Holiness has an audience, it’s on YouTube and they can watch from Beijing and see how his health is.

Regarding His Holiness’s rebirth, the process begins only when the Lama leaves this world, not before. When His Holiness keeps saying that he will live to be 130 years old, it is too early for us to think about all this. Then there will be prophecies, omens, references to oracles, consultations with high lamas of different traditions, but the main responsibility will be the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Trust, which is very different from what the Chinese are saying – that they will follow the traditions and be the last ones to seal it.

There is nothing new in our approach. We are trying to explain to the world about the process of rebirth that is very unique to Tibetan Buddhism and how China is trying to politicize all this.

Are you satisfied with India’s stand on this issue?

I always believe that India will be on the right side of history in these matters.