By Khedroob Thondup

China’s governance of Tibet has always been marked by a deep mistrust of Tibetans themselves. The appointment of Hu Changsheng as Party Secretary in Tibet is yet another reminder of this reality. Hu does not speak Tibetan, nor does he understand the customs, traditions, or spiritual life of the people he is meant to govern. His authority rests not on legitimacy or cultural understanding, but on the coercive machinery of the state. This is not accidental—it is the very design of Beijing’s rule in Tibet.

The Pattern of Han Leadership. Since the 1950s, the Chinese Communist Party has consistently ensured that the top post in Tibet—the Party Secretary—has been held by a Han Chinese. Tibetans may be allowed ceremonial or secondary positions, but the locus of power is never entrusted to them. This reflects Beijing’s fear: that a Tibetan leader, even one loyal to the Party, m...