Dharamshala: The 16th Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration convened its 5th Strategy Committee Meeting earlier today in Dharamshala.

This three-day bi-annual meeting will follow up with the implementation of measures chalked out at the previous four meetings and additionally, will discuss the progress of the ongoing strategic programs and deliberate on future advocacy initiatives as per the committee’s objectives.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering will chair the meeting which will be attended by members of the committee comprising former Kalon Tempa Tsering, former Kalon Dongchung Ngodup, and former envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen. In attendance were also Kalon Dolma Gyari (Department of Security), Kalon Norzin Dolma (Department of Information and International Relations), Secretary Karma Rinchen (Department of Security), Secretary Karma Choeying (Department of Information and International Relations), Secretary Dawa Tsering of the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), political secretary Tashi Gyatso of Kashag Secretariat, and Secretary Ngaba Tsegyam of Gaden Phodrang office.

“In addition to reviewing and discussing the strategic programs, this meeting will deliberate on the prevailing situation in Tibet concerning China’s colonial boarding school and the mass DNA collection, the changing political landscape of China vis-a-vis its influence in the global community”, said Secretary Choeying of the Department of Information and International Relations while addressing the gathered reporters. He also added that the committee will discuss official meetings held between Sikyong and global leaders, lawmakers and intellectuals this year.

The Permanent Strategy Committee was established by the Kashag in August 2021 following the dissolution of the previous Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations. The Committee held its first meeting in November 2021, the second meeting in July 2022, the third meeting in November 2022, and the fourth meeting in April 2023.