By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 30  July: Chinese state media has confirmed that a historic stone fortress in Tibet’s eastern Gyalrong region was demolished by authorities, attributing the destruction to an expressway construction project. The official admission comes weeks after footage of a bulldozer tearing down the structure circulated online around 14 July, triggering widespread grief inside occupied Tibet and condemnation from Tibetan exile communities.

In an article published on 27 July, state-run China Tibet Online named this website directly, citing Tibet Express’ earlier report on the demolition while attempting to dismiss it as unfounded. 

The Chinese state outlet acknowledged that the structure was in fact dismantled on 13 July but rejected reports by Tibet Express’ characterisation of it as an ancient relic.

Instead, it claimed the structure...