London: The Office of Tibet in London hosted a group of ten undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Westminster for a 90-minute interactive session focusing on the political and diplomatic outreach of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) aimed at resolving the Sino-Tibetan conflict, the resilience of Tibetans living inside occupied Tibet, and the strategic importance of the Tibetan Plateau as a major source of minerals driving China’s renewable energy transition.

Representative Tsering Yangkey welcomed the students and expressed appreciation for their interest in Tibet. Using a series of pictorial slides, she outlined the democratic evolution of the CTA and highlighted key elements of the Tibetan government-in-exile, including transparency, institutional continuity, and systems of checks and balances. She also explained the mechanisms of the Tibetan democratic election process.

Secretary Tenzin Kunga provided an overview of Tibet’s contemporary history, the Tibetan experience in exile, and the global diplomatic outreach carried out through the 13 Offices of Tibet worldwide, as well as the role of the Tibetan diaspora. Referring to concepts such as “extractive colonialism” and “green colonialism,” he spoke about China’s aggressive mining activities in Tibet’s sacred mountains to extract minerals essential for its green energy industry. He noted that these practices have resulted in ecological degradation, natural disasters, and river pollution.

He further explained that large-scale mining projects are often accompanied by the forced displacement of Tibetan communities, particularly nomads who are relocated from their traditional pasturelands to make way for resource extraction.

Following the presentations, the students engaged actively in a question-and-answer session. Their questions ranged from how the next 14th Dalai Lama would be identified, whether Tibetans inside Tibet had separate Tibetan army units, the symbolism and design of the Tibetan national flag, and how urbanisation in Tibet affects Tibetan culture. Students also asked about the potential implications if countries such as the United Kingdom were to recognise the Sino-Tibetan conflict as an unresolved international issue, and requested personal reflections on the experience of escaping from Tibet.

The Representative and staff addressed the questions by providing historical context and practical examples. They encouraged the students to remain curious about Tibet and to critically examine official narratives presented by the China regarding Tibet.

The student visit was organised by Audrey Lupfer, an intern at the Office of Tibet and an MA student at the University of Westminster, who had also participated in a student visit to Tibet House in November last year.

As an alumnus of the University of Westminster, Secretary Tenzin Kunga has continued to strengthen collaboration between the Office of Tibet and the university’s MA Diplomacy programme coordinator. Through this partnership, successive groups of interested students—particularly those studying politics and international relations—are invited to the Office of Tibet for informal sessions on Tibet, complementing their academic studies with practical insights into Tibetan diplomacy and contemporary issues.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, London