Last Updated: December 10, 2023, 15:15 IST
A demonstrator holding a Free Tibet flag climbs a flagpole outside the hotel where China’s President Xi Jinping met with U.S. business leaders, on the sidelines of APEC summit in US, Nov 15. (Reuters)
China’s media shifts to using “Xizang” instead of “Tibet” in English articles, reflecting Beijing’s emphasis on sovereignty and discourse power
Chinese state media has undergone a linguistic shift in its English articles in recent weeks, favouring the term “Xizang” over “Tibet” following the release of a white paper by the State Council in early November.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the document, titled “CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements,” describes developments in the region since Chinese President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012. This linguistic change marks a departure from the norm, as previous white papers on Tibet used the term “Tibet autonomous region.” “Xizang” is the pinyin, or Chinese romanization, for “Tibet.”
Since the release of the November white paper, official Chinese media reports have predominantly substituted “Xizang” for “Tibet.” Experts see this change as Beijing’s attempt to emphasise sovereignty over Tibet. However, its impact on the international community is expected to be limited.
China, which occupied Tibet for over 60 years, has refused to negotiate with Tibetan leaders since 2010. Despite efforts to alter the English name to “Xizang,” experts believe this will not likely affect the region’s international image. This linguistic change aligns with Beijing’s broader efforts to reinforce national identity in ethnic minority regions by promoting “standard spoken and written Chinese,” or Mandarin.
‘Tibet as the least-free on Earth’
“Although human rights are limited across China, Tibetans are singled out for greater abuse because of their distinct identity. And while China has long been known for its rights violations, conditions in Tibet are getting dramatically worse. Freedom House lists Tibet as the least-free country on Earth, tied with Syria and worse than even North Korea,” according to the Washington-based advocacy group International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
Under Chinese rule, rights groups say that Tibetans are persecuted simply for preserving their cultural identity and most basic rights. They can be jailed and tortured just for celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday and face immense restrictions on their abilities to practice their religion, travel and speak freely.
In the recently held “UN Forum on Minority Issues” in Geneva, ICT’s representative Mélanie Blondelle highlighted the discrimination and inequalities Tibetans face in all aspects of their lives, including the erasure of their mother tongue. In her statement, Blondelle said, “China must stop relegating Tibetans to second-class citizens in their own land, and immediately rescind all policies that block Tibetans’ input on policies that radically affect their daily lives and their identity as a distinct people.”
