The urge for increased human rights in the Chinese-controlled Tibet could gain positive momentum in two weeks when the 18th National Congress Party will meet in Beijing and likely elect Xi Jinping as vice president.

Though Xi is reticent about his policies regarding Tibet, the advocate group “International Tibet Network” hopes an open-minded Xi will push political reforms in Tibet. 

Xi’s father, a former vice premier, is known for being friendly with the Dalai Lama.

According to a Reuters report, Xi's father was still wearing a watch, a gift from Dalai Lama, even after the spiritual leader fled China.

Still, Xi might not be able to create policies favorable to Tibet. 

The International Tibet Network asked Xi to “stop the use of military crackdown on protesters, remove police from monasteries and cancel the policy of nomad settlement.” 

The group launched several campaigns on social media this month, but some campaigns never reached Mainland China, which still blocks Facebook and Youtube. 

Tsering W. Shakya, a Tibetan historian and literature expert from the University of British Columbia, said he does not anticipate anything changing. 

“There will be no major change resulting from the change in government in China. The central position of (the) Chinese government will remain same,” he said. “The government's policy in Tibet is always changing but not change as hoped (for) by the Tibetans. The government is changing their policies towards greater integration of Tibetan areas into the mainstream of China.”

Introducing the Han ethnicity into the Tibetan Area has been protested by Tibetans and there is a lot of tension between the two groups.

According to Shakya, a rage toward culture invasion is the main reason for the self-immolation frequently seen in riots and protests. 

“Whatever horrific forms of action the Tibetan protesters might continue to adopt, it is most unlikely they will achieve any form of concession from the Chinese authorities.” he said. “Tibetans’ protests will not make a dent on the consciousness of most Chinese.”

 

Reach Staff Reporter Meng Meng here.