Wang Junzheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of China designated Tibet Autonomous Region, presided over a meeting of the region’s Foreign Affairs Working Committee, instructing thorough study and implementation of Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thought as the guiding principle for Tibet’s foreign affairs. The meeting reviewed the TAR’s foreign affairs achievements in 2024 and set priorities for 2025, focusing on aligning Tibet’s foreign affairs with China’s national strategies, reported Chinese state media on May 28. Wang highlighted the strategic importance of Tibet in China’s diplomacy and to maintain a high degree of political and ideological consistency with the CPC Central Committee.

Wang also stressed the importance of “high-quality development” in Tibet’s foreign affairs, including active integration in China’s Belt and Road plan, strengthening economic and trade exchanges with neighboring countries, and improving international communication aligning with the Party and the Chinese central government’s external propaganda on Tibet. The meeting called for accelerating the construction of key infrastructure to support opening up connections to South Asia, reinforcing border security and development, and consolidating achievements in border governance. Wang reiterated the need for strong party leadership and discipline in foreign affairs, urging the building of a loyal and capable team to ensure the effective implementation of central policies and the “long-term stability” of Tibet.

Authorities in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, have imposed administrative penalties on 31 individuals involved in a rare early-morning brawl outside a bar on May 7, according to statements reported by both the Tibetan-language outlet Tibet Times. Conflating a brawl with “independence or terrorism”, in the wake of the incident, Lhasa police announced a heightened security vigil aimed at preventing Tibetan activism. The aftermath of the Lhasa brawl highlights the Chinese government’s continued vigilance and strict approach to security in the Tibetan region.

On May 27, Shenyang, secretary of the Kardze (Ganzi) prefecture party committee, presided over a meeting of the Party Committee to review the progress of Kardze’s “14th Five-Year Plan” and to launch preparations for the “15th Five-Year Plan”. He emphasized the importance of aligning with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions and the directives of the Party Central Committee, reported Chinese state media on May 29. The meeting emphasized research on key issues for the 15th Five-Year Plan to actively integrate the economic and cultural system of the Tibetan prefecture to Sichuan province and China’s national plan. Ensuring security was highlighted as the central task for implementation of the development agenda in the 15th five-year plan.

During a meeting in Beijing on May 19, Karma Tseten, deputy party secretary and chairman of the “Tibet Autonomous Region”, met with Zhang Yuzhuo, director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), to discuss expanding the role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Tibet’s development as China formulates its 15th Five-Year Plan. While the meeting highlighted China’s central government’s commitment to channeling SOE investment into Tibet, the balance between economic modernization and the preservation of local autonomy and cultural identity is concerning as it risks reinforcing a top-down development model that prioritizes China’s broader state interests over local Tibetan needs.

Tibet’s “green electricity” trading surpassed 100 million kilowatt-hours for the first time in mid-May, reported Chinese state media Tibet Daily on May 26. The power department organized multiple “green electricity” transactions this year, increasing new energy generation by 79 million kWh and exporting 27 million kWh generated in Tibet to Chinese provinces like Beijing, Jiangsu, and Anhui for significant economic benefits. State media reported that “green energy” will be rapidly expanded and actively exported in scale to Chinese provinces in the future by deepening “green electricity” trading through China’s unified electricity market.

On May 27, the world’s highest-altitude ultra-high-voltage DC transmission project—the ±800 kV line from the upper reaches of Drichu (Chinese: Jinsha) River to China’s Hubei—was fully connected with the installation of its final conductor section in Nyagchu (Yajiang) County in the traditional Kham region of eastern Tibet. Spanning 1,901 kilometers across Tibet, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei, the project is a key in China’s “west-to-east transmission” initiative, designed to deliver up to 40 billion kilowatt-hours of hydropower and new energy annually, reported Chinese state media on May 29. With the entire line now connected, Chinese State Grid Sichuan Power is expediting final checks and commissioning work to ensure the project is operational on schedule.