By Khedroob Thondup

For decades, Beijing has pursued the project of Sinicisation in Tibet—an attempt to erase Tibetan identity and replace it with a homogenised Chinese one. Schools are stripped of the Tibetan language, monasteries are surveilled and hollowed out, and Tibetan children are sent to boarding institutions where Mandarin dominates. Yet despite the intensity of these campaigns, Sinicisation in Tibet is destined to fail.

1. Language as Resistance

Language is not merely a tool of communication; it is the vessel of memory and identity. Even under pressure, Tibetans continue to speak, write, and sing in Tibetan. Diaspora communities amplify this resilience by producing Tibetan literature, music, and digital content. Every word spoken in Tibetan is an act of defiance against erasure.

2. Faith Beyond Control

The CCP’s interference in Tibetan Buddhism—appointing puppet lamas, restr...