3 weeks ago
Tibet Studies Conference Pushed Online Amid China Pressure Questions
A group of grown-ups who study a place called Tibet wanted to have a big meeting in Nepal.
The meeting is called a conference, and it was supposed to happen at a university in the city of Kathmandu.
But the university decided it would not host the meeting anymore, so the meeting will happen on the internet instead.
The people who planned the meeting say the government of Nepal told them not to have it in person.
Nepal's government says it never told them to cancel and that the organizers made the choice by themselves.
Some people think China, which is a very big neighbor of Nepal, helped make the decision happen.
China says Tibet is part of its country and does not like big meetings about Tibet.
The people planning the meeting say it is only about history, culture, and learning, not about politics.
Nepal has many Tibetan people living there and is trying to stay friendly with both China and other countries.
The meeting will still happen, just on computers instead of in Nepal.
The International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) conference, scheduled for August 23-29 at Kathmandu University in Nepal, was moved online after the university withdrew as host.
Organizers say Nepal's government asked them not to hold the event because it was "not an appropriate time," but the government denies issuing any such instructions.
Officials cited by The Kathmandu Post said senior Nepalese officials intervened after China raised concerns, and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming discussed the conference with Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai on July 21.
IATS acting president Francoise Robin called the development "very regrettable and worrying," while organizers said the event was academic and that about 100 Chinese scholars had registered.
Several Tibetan experts from the Tibetan Policy Institute in India withdrew, and a five-member Chinese delegation led by Jiang Jianguo is still expected to visit Nepal starting August 18.
- Who
- The International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS), Kathmandu University, Nepal's government, and Chinese diplomats, including Ambassador Zhang Maoming.
- What
- An international academic conference on Tibet was moved online after Kathmandu University withdrew as host.
- Where
- Originally planned for Kathmandu, Nepal, at Kathmandu University; the event is now being held online.
- When
- The conference was scheduled for August 23-29; organizers announced the change on a Saturday in early August.
- Why
- Organizers say the Nepalese government asked them not to host it, citing timing; officials cited by The Kathmandu Post said senior officials intervened after China raised concerns, though Nepal's government denies ordering the change.
Organizers and critics of the decision
Nepal's government and Chinese officials
Who decided to move the conference online
Organizers and critics of the decision
Organizers say the government asked Kathmandu University to withdraw from hosting, with conference convener Sagar Raj Sharma saying the government told them "this is not an appropriate time to conduct this conference."
Nepal's government and Chinese officials
Nepal's government denies giving any instructions; spokesperson Hem Raj Aryal said "Neither have we sent a letter nor given verbal instructions to stop it. They postponed it on their own."
China's role in the decision
Organizers and critics of the decision
Officials cited by The Kathmandu Post said senior Nepalese officials intervened after China raised concerns, and Ambassador Zhang Maoming reportedly discussed the conference with Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai on July 21.
Nepal's government and Chinese officials
Organizers say the ambassador did not directly demand cancellation, about 100 Chinese scholars were expected to attend, and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu has not publicly responded to questions about its alleged role.
Academic versus political nature of the conference
Organizers and critics of the decision
Organizers argue the conference is purely academic and that IATS has no political affiliation, and they assured Nepalese authorities it would not be used for pro-Tibet or anti-China activism.
Nepal's government and Chinese officials
Nepal Chief Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karkee said authorities advised organizers that holding the event could create sensitivities and security concerns, though security agencies did not recommend cancellation.
Key facts
- Conference
- International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) conference on Tibetan history, culture, religion, language and society
- Original venue
- Kathmandu University, Nepal
- Scheduled dates
- August 23-29
- Status
- Moved online after Kathmandu University withdrew as host
- Preparation
- In preparation for about four years; Nepal was selected to host in 2022
- Expected attendees
- Scholars from around the world, including about 100 Chinese scholars from institutions such as Peking University and the China Tibetology Research Centre
- IATS founding
- Established at the University of Oxford in 1979
- China-Nepal trade
- China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner after India, according to World Bank figures
Quotes
Sagar Raj Sharma
Conference convener and professor at Kathmandu University
“"We had been planning this conference for a long time, but we received a request from the government not to hold it, so we are not doing it."”
NDTV
“"Neither have we sent a letter nor given verbal instructions to stop it. The conference was postponed on their own."”
NDTV











