Prague, 25 March 2026: A conference on “The Sinicization of Tibet,” was organised by Member of Parliament Helena Langšádlová in cooperation with the Sinopsis Project and the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Senate Building, Czech Republic. The event brought together parliamentarians, scholars, journalists, and Tibetan representatives to discuss the political and cultural situation in Tibet under Chinese control. The opening session featured remarks by Senator Langšádlová, Martin Hála, Director of the Sinopsis Project, and Thinlay Chukki, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from the Office of Tibet in Geneva.
The conference began with a panel focusing on Tibet’s international and strategic significance. Senator Břetislav Rychlík discussed the experiences of the first Czech parliamentary delegation to Dharamshala and reflected on Tibet’s ongoing struggle for freedom. David Gards, a Sinologist and Tibetologist affiliated with the Sinopsis Project, analysed Tibet as a crucial factor in Beijing’s domestic and international ambitions. Jarmila Ptáčková, Sinologist and Tibetologist at the Oriental Institute, explored the Sinicization of Tibet and highlighted the region’s strategic importance for the spread of Chinese influence. Collectively, the panel emphasised Tibet’s centrality to China’s broader geopolitical and domestic strategies.
The second panel examined Tibetan culture, religion, and life in exile. Zuzana Ondomisiová, an ethnographer, highlighted the importance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation for the preservation of Tibetan cultural identity. Representative Thinlay Chukki shared the experiences of Tibetans living in Europe, emphasising the ongoing repression they face even outside their homeland. Alexander Neumann, journalist, reflected on Czech support for Tibet and the enduring legacy of Václav Havel, while Tomáš Etzler discussed the difficulties of reporting from Tibet. Pavel Zácek, MP of the Czech Socialist Party, concluded the panel by sharing his experiences working with the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Representative Thinlay Chukki also spoke on the transnational repression Tibetans continue to face in the Europe. She detailed systemic control within Tibet, including the destruction of over 6,000 monasteries, arbitrary detention, restrictions on religious practice, and enforced disappearances. Beyond Tibet, Chinese authorities extend their influence through transnational repression, employing digital surveillance, harassment, and even leveraging family members to intimidate Tibetan activists in Europe. The death of Tulku Hunkar Dorje Rinpoche in Chinese-Vietnamese custody in 2025 underscored the lethal risks involved. She called on European governments to recognise this repression, understand its historical and political roots, and use their sovereign powers to protect Tibetan citizens.
The conference was attended by prominent Czech lawmakers, including MP Helena Langšádlová, former Minister for Science and Research of the Czech Republic and Member of the Chamber of Deputies representing TOP 09; MP Jakub Krainer, Member of the Chamber of Deputies for STAN (Mayors and Independents); MP Hayato Okamura of the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People’s Party; and MP Pavel Žáček, Member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Other attendees included Přemysl Rabas, Senator for Senate District 5 (Chomutov), and Břetislav Rychlík, Senator for the Brno-město district (Senate constituency 59). In total, approximately 50 participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds contributed to the discussions, including Phuntsok Topgyal, UN Advocacy Officer at the Office of Tibet in Geneva, as well as numerous young participants.
Overall, the conference highlighted the urgent need for international awareness of Tibet’s situation, the ongoing process of Sinicization, and the importance of safeguarding Tibetan cultural and political freedoms both within Tibet and in exile.
-Report Filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva
