China’s Leadership Change and Its Tibet Policy

Two new factors have appeared on the Tibetan political scene after the recent leadership change in China. First, the ‘spiritualisation’ of politics: paradoxically, the atheist Chinese Communist Party (CCP), also known as The Communist Party of China (CPC) seems increasingly interested in ‘spiritual’ matters. The CCP has started promoting reincarnated Lamas, known in China as ‘Living Buddhas’, in a big way. The purpose is to prepare for the post-Dalai Lama era. The second new development is the emergence of a ‘Tibet Gang’. A string of officials who have been posted to or connected with Tibet at one point or another in their career have now joined the Politburo, the government or the top rung of the Party. This article will study these developments and look at the possible implications.