A day after the United States House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act” on June 12, 2024, China threatened the US not to implement the Act. Speaking at the regular press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson remarked that “The US must not implement the Act. If the US continues down the wrong path, China will take resolute measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.” Calling Tibet by the Chinese term “Xizang” per the Chinese government’s policy decision to globalize the Chinese term to replace the country name Tibet, the spokesperson claimed Tibet as part of China since ancient times per the Chinese official position.

Contrary to the Chinese position that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times, the Tibet-China dispute is unresolved in accordance with international law which the Resolve Act affirms.

The Resolve Tibet Act challenges the Chinese narrative. It empowers the US Special Coordinator for Tibet to counter disinformation about Tibet from the Chinese government and rejects China’s claims about Tibet’s historical status as inaccurate. Key provisions of the Act include promoting dialogue between China and Tibetan representatives without preconditions, affirming State Department efforts to seek a negotiated agreement on Tibet, and encouraging China to address Tibetan aspirations regarding their distinct identity

After the discrimination faced by four EU passport holders of Tibetan ethnicity, who sought to travel to their native hometowns in Tibet following the Chinese government’s announcement of a visa-free policy for short-term visits from 12 countries on May 7, one more Belgian passport holder of Tibetan ethnicity was deported from Beijing airport, the Voice of Tibet reported on July 12.

Unlike the previous four EU passport holders of Tibetan ethnicity from Belgium, France, and Germany, who were subjected to long hours of interrogation before two were deported from Chinese airports, another Belgian citizen of Tibetan origin was deported from Beijing airport on allegations of being politically active on X, formerly Twitter, although the Tibetan maintained that he did not have a Twitter account nor the app on his phone.

Qinghai Daily on July 7 reported that the Qinghai Provincial Foreign Affairs Office hosted an Iranian press delegation in Xining, Qinghai’s provincial capital. The delegation, comprising seven Iranian media outlets, was slated to visit the Qinghai Lake Wetland Nature Reserve, Gonghe Photovoltaic Power Station, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai University for Nationalities, Qinghai Natural Resources Museum, China Unicom Big Data Base, and other places for field visits, exchanges, interactions, and observations from July 7 to 12. The state media reported that the visit would focus on themes such as ecological protection, clean energy, multiculturalism, and industrial development to “witness the gratifying achievements of Qinghai in promoting ecological protection and high-quality development of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.” Ali Hadiloo, representative of the Public Diplomacy Center of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the long-standing friendship between China and Iran and hoped for enhanced cooperation in various fields.

Qinghai’s hosting of the Iranian press delegation exemplifies China’s international relations strategy that emphasizes strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships to deepen ties with Iran and other Global South nations, promoting its narrative on the global stage. By showcasing Qinghai’s “achievements in ecological protection, clean energy, and industrial development”, China aims to bolster its image as a leader in sustainable development and modernization to garner a more favorable global perception.

Sonam Nyima, member of the district party committee and director of the United Front Work Department, visited Drepung and Sera monasteries in Lhasa to assess the implementation of the “Three Consciousnesses” indoctrination program and stability maintenance measures, reported Chinese state media on July 9.

During his visit, Sonam met with temple management committees to review current management practices and plan future steps. He instructed the continued implementation of the “Three Consciousnesses education” in the religious community.

The party official ordered thorough implementation of CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives on religious work and the Party’s Tibet governance strategy. He stressed the need to deepen the “Three Consciousnesses education,” promote the sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, and guide religion to adapt to the socialist society.

The official urged united front department cadres to perform their duties diligently in making the monks to follow the “four standards” and to drive their loyalty to the Party.

Sonam also instructed the need for vigilance in maintaining social stability, calling for strict implementation of security measures in religious sites.

Earlier this year, the Chinese authorities ordered 1700 minor monks from Ngaba Kirti Monastery and Dzoge Monastery to be removed from the monasteries and enroll in schools run by the state. Despite the parents objecting to the order and not giving their consent, the monks were removed from the monasteries. As the schools’ holiday break approaches, the authorities have issued prohibitory orders restricting the monks from visiting their former monasteries, the Voice of Tibet reported on July 1.

Chinese state media on July 9, reported that a rural governance points-based system has been implemented since early this year to incentivize positive behavior among Tibetan villagers in the Ngari Prefecture, TAR, which lies in the western edge of Tibet. According to the plan, Tibetan villagers could earn points for good behavior and exchange them for school supplies and household items at a new “points supermarket” and the top-scoring household at year-end receives a 4,000 Chinese yuan reward. The system which is being implemented in at least 87 villages in the region evaluates villagers on eight aspects, including patriotism, law compliance, public service, and environmental improvement. State media reported the system as part of a broader effort in the Ngari region to promote rural revitalization through grassroots party building and rural governance. The system’s emphasis on patriotism and compliance with laws appears to be a mechanism for social control, aligning villagers’ behaviors with Chinese state policies rather than addressing their villagers needs.

China on July 5 held its 4th iteration of the “China-Xizang Trans-Himalayan Forum for International Cooperation” in Lunang Township of Drakyib (Bayi) District in the officially designated Tibet Autonomous Region. A foreign delegation of ambassadors, journalists, scholars from over 20 countries were invited to the forum. As in the past and in other Chinese international oriented propaganda forums, the delegation was predominantly composed of under or developing countries friendly to China like Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Jordan and Bhutan. Wang Haizhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region Party Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, met with the foreign delegation. Wang in his speech at the forum urged the foreign delegation to carry China’s message to the people in their respective countries. Presented as a platform on “sustainable development, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation for countries in the mountainous region”, the Chinese government aims to spread China’s governance model across the globe beginning with its friendly and aid-dependent foreign countries.