A new push by the Chinese government to reshape the global conversation about Tibet has sparked outrage among Tibetan rights groups. The Tibet International Communication Center, recently inaugurated in Lhasa, has been condemned as another step in China’s ongoing propaganda campaign, aimed at controlling the international narrative about Tibet.
Tibetan Rights Organization Warns of Escalating Chinese Propaganda
According to a report by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), the opening of the communication center is a strategic move by China to bolster its efforts in promoting its narrative on Tibet. The ICT highlights that such initiatives are part of a broader strategy to distort global perceptions of Tibet’s political situation, which has been under Chinese control since the 1959 invasion.
“This establishment further strengthens China’s propaganda machinery on Tibet,” the ICT stated. “We expect further escalation by the Chinese administration to dominate global discourse on Tibet with distorted storytelling.”
China’s Propaganda Strategy: Shaping Global Opinion on Tibet
In an earlier report published in January 2024, titled ‘China’s External Propaganda on Tibet: Erasing Tibet to Tell a Good Chinese Story’, the ICT detailed how China has been intensifying efforts to reshape the international perception of Tibet. The report emphasized how the Chinese government is using propaganda to obscure the ongoing human rights abuses and suppress Tibetan voices.
The report stated:
“China is aware of the political problem in Tibet. Instead of resolving it, they falsify the situation through various propaganda methods, aiming to reshape Tibet’s portrayal in global discussions.”
The “Xizang” Rebranding Effort: A Subtle Name Change with Global Impact
One of the key concerns raised by the ICT is China’s effort to replace the internationally recognized term “Tibet” with the sinicized version, “Xizang”. This rebranding effort, which started discreetly in late 2021, aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s long-term vision to “tell a good Chinese story” on the global stage.
The ICT believes this name change is part of a larger narrative control strategy that China aims to implement globally, further disconnecting Tibet from its cultural identity and historical significance in international discourse.
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China’s Growing Media Control: A Tool to Suppress Tibetan Voices
The establishment of the Tibet International Communication Center is seen as a means for China to further expand its state-controlled media influence, both domestically and internationally. The ICT warns that China’s use of advanced technology and media platforms will continue to marginalize authentic Tibetan voices while spreading state-sanctioned narratives.
The ICT report states:
“This center will likely be used to obscure the ongoing oppression in Tibet and undermine the international recognition of Tibetan autonomy. With China’s vast resources and technological reach, controlling the narrative is a key part of its strategy to maintain control over Tibet.”
