By Khedroob Thondup

When President Donald Trump meets Xi Jinping, the United States should prioritise environmental security in Tibet over human rights advocacy. Tibet’s ecological fragility directly impacts Asia’s water systems, regional stability, and global climate resilience. Framing Tibet as an environmental issue allows Washington to engage Beijing on shared interests, avoid predictable sovereignty disputes, and build coalitions with India and Southeast Asia around water security.

Background. Tibet’s ecological role: Known as the “Third Pole,” Tibet holds the largest ice reserves outside the Arctic and Antarctic. Its glaciers feed major rivers sustaining nearly two billion people. China’s development projects: Beijing’s dam-building, mining, and infrastructure expansion accelerate glacial retreat and disrupt downstream water flows.Climate change impact: Rising temperatures on the plateau a...