International Relations

China promotes ‘Xizang’ amid recent Tibetan earthquake: Another push for global recognition and identity erasure

On a cold morning of 7th January 2025, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.1 (US Geological Survey) on the Richter Scale struck Tibet, with the epicenter at Dingri County’s Tsogo Township. As of 8th January, most reports stated the death toll at 126 (more than 95 dead in Tibet itself) with nearly 190 injured and over 400 people rescued. Tibet’s Shigatse area witnessed the destruction of 3,600 homes, according to CCTV, the Chinese state broadcaster. Since it is difficult to obtain accurate information from the People’s Republic of China (PRC/China) and Tibet due to the even harsher internet control measures, it would be prudent to accept the numbers with a pinch of salt.

Beijing has seized this opportunity to promote its term ‘Xizang’ (the Chinese name for Tibet) globally. Tibetans in exile are disheartened to see China and some media houses take advantage of natural disasters to downplay the internationally accepted name ‘Tibet’. While the world community traditionally refers to the region as Tibet, China’s continued use of the term Xizang is part of a broader strategic effort to strengthen its narrative, assert control, expand its territory and seek global recognition of the region’s new name under Beijing’s governance.

The Importance of Tibet

Historically, the term ‘Tibet’ has been associated with Tibetan cultural and religious identity, which carries significant historical, political and symbolic weight. Tibet has been a focal point in international discourse, often linked to debates surrounding human rights, autonomy and the preservation of Tibetan culture. It is a widely accepted fact among the international historical and strategic community that between 1911 to China’s invasion in 1949, Tibet was a completely independent state then by today’s standards.

October 2021 was the first instance of China (through its English-language propaganda mouthpiece Global Times) publicly terming Tibet as Xizang: “Chinese officials spoke highly of the rapid development and prosperity of Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region under the successful governance of the Communist Party of China over the past 70 years …” Upon being appointed as the new secretary of the Communist Party of China (CCP) Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee, Wang Junzheng immediately issued a directive to replace ‘Tibet’ in English and other Western language translations of official documents with ‘Xizang’.

From October and December 2023 onwards, the term Xizang gained greater currency in official Chinese communication, cartography and media. In October 2021, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech titled “New Development in Xizang, New Contribution by China, and New Opportunities for the World” at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs event “Event of MFA Presenting Tibet to the World”. Yi’s speech was the first occasion Beijing went official publicly with Xizang replacing Tibet. And the November 2023-published whitepaper CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements was the first instance China institutionalised the term Xizang into official Chinese Communist policy.

The choice of Xizang is more than a mere linguistic preference for Beijing, but a critical component of China’s broader strategy to assert its sovereignty over the region, particularly in the face of ongoing international support for Tibetan rights and autonomy. For example, the Resolve Tibet Act passed by the United States Congress was vehemently opposed by Beijing. The Chinese Government’s focus on ‘Xizang Nomenclature’ reflects its desire to present the region not as a contested territory but as an integral and peaceful part of the PRC. This desire is in stark contrast to Beijing considering Tibetan sovereignty as one of its four red-lines.

The Earthquake: A Crisis to Promote Narrative Control

The recent earthquake in Tibet provides China with a tragic yet politically advantageous moment to reinforce its narrative surrounding the region. The Chinese Government’s response to the disaster has been swift and highly publicised, with state media emphasising the efficiency of the response and the resilience of the Tibet region in the face of adversity.

CCTV had reported eight satellite shots were taken, with obtained data shared with the relevant departments at the earliest. Drones equipped with lights were also deployed to light up 8,000 square meters to aid in search and rescue (SAR) operations. The Chinese state broadcaster went on to report that more than 500 emergency responders and 106 ambulances were deployed to provide aid, while emergency supplies were also delivered to the impacted areas by the evening of 7th January, in addition to repairing damaged roads.

By framing the disaster relief efforts in terms of the strength and unity of the Chinese nation, Beijing seeks to project an image of Xizang as an integral part of China, contributing to the broader narrative of national cohesion. Moreover, the focus on Xizang rather than Tibet allows China to sidestep any discussions of Sinicisation of Tibetan identity, including political autonomy or the ongoing human rights violations faced by the Tibetan people.

Additionally, the Chinese Government’s use of the earthquake as an opportunity to promote Xizang globally serves multiple purposes. On the one hand, it seeks to demonstrate China’s capability in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), presenting a positive image of the region under its governance. And on the other, it strategically sidelines international calls for greater Tibetan autonomy by redirecting attention to the supposed stability and prosperity that China has brought to the region.

Influence Operations: A Bid for Global Recognition and Territorial Expansion

China’s long-term objective is to secure international recognition of Tibet (or Xizang) as an undisputed part of its territory. The emphasis on Xizang in the wake of the earthquake serves as a means of reinforcing this claim on the global stage. By repeatedly using the term Xizang (whenever Tibet is mentioned) in official communications, academic discussions, international fora and state-controlled media, China is ensuring the appearance of the term Xizang and asserting its territorial claim, thereby attempting to influence international discourse, reshape global thinking on Tibet as well as standardise the terminology. Therefore, the term Tibet – often associated with the region’s distinct identity, history and culture – risks being replaced in global discussions with Xizang – furthering Beijing’s strategic agenda to remove Tibet from historical, institutional and international memory.

Beijing’s primary reason for occupying Lhasa is territorial expansion as it entails geostrategic access and critical resources. Tibet connects China with/to the Strait of Hormuz through Pakistan, the Bay of Bengal through Sikkim and Bangladesh or via Myanmar, control the Strait of Malacca from the Andaman Islands, link up with Central Asia and Eurasia’s centre. Critical resources in Tibet include water, lithium, copper, uranium, chromite, boron, borax, iron and graphite.

The Chinese Government’s use of Xizang in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Tibet is a clear example of how the state uses natural disasters and global crises as opportunities to assert control over the region. By promoting the term Xizang internationally and framing the earthquake as a demonstration of Chinese strength, Beijing is seeking to reinforce its narrative and ensure the world views Tibet only through the lens of Chinese sovereignty. In doing so, it aims to shift the focus away from contentious issues of Tibetan autonomy and human rights while reinforcing the region’s integration into the broader Chinese state as it attempts to eradicate everything that stands for Tibet.

Featured image: ChatGPT AI Image Creator

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About Siddhant Hira

Siddhant is working to establish his niche at the crossroads of Special Forces, Intelligence and Foreign Policy in the Indian context, also focusing on Chinese maritime aggression in the Indian Ocean Region. He is a 2024 Non-resident Fellow at the Irregular Warfare Initiative and holds a Master’s in National Security Studies from King’s College London. During his Masters, Siddhant has participated in the Atlantic Council's Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge as well as the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Office National Security Secretariat’s Policy Hackathon. He was previously the first and last Defence Correspondent at Outlook Business (India), with additional bylines in The Financial Express (India), The Diplomat (USA), the Observer Research Foundation (India), the Institute of Chinese Studies (India), OFCS.Report (Italy) and The Defence Archive (India).

One thought on “China promotes ‘Xizang’ amid recent Tibetan earthquake: Another push for global recognition and identity erasure

  1. Nola Est says:

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