by Lopsang Gurung

The symposium convened in Beijing on June 3 under the title “Promoting High-Quality Development of China’s Tibetology Research and National High-End Think Tanks on Tibet-Related Matters”offered a revealing glimpse into how the Chinese Communist Party imagines the future of Tibetology. The meeting marked the fortieth anniversary of the China Tibetology Research Center, yet the tone was less commemorative than programmatic. It was an occasion to restate that scholarship on Tibet, both within China and abroad, must follow the Party line with unwavering discipline. Li Ganjie, Politburo member and head of the United Front Work Department, presided over the opening session and delivered a speech that left no ambiguity about the political mission assigned to this field.

Li praised the Center for its role in coordinati...