Overview

• In front of the Potala Palace, senior leader Wang Huning told an estimated 20,000 attendees that Tibetan affairs are internal to China.
• Xi Jinping called for building a “socialist modern” Tibet centered on unity, social stability, ethnic solidarity, and religious harmony.
• State media described the trip as unusual and unannounced, marking Xi’s second visit to the region since becoming head of state.
• Authorities showcased development claims, citing expanded road networks, the Lhasa–Nyingchi high‑speed rail link, and a tripling of per‑capita income under Xi.
• Rights groups cite years of repression, including monastery demolitions and monks’ imprisonment, while Tibetan exiles protested in India and analysts point to border infrastructure with potential military use.