The Tibetan Government in Exile officially known as the Central Tibetan Administration was established in 1959 by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama after he and his people were forced into exile. India granted him and the Tibetan Refugee Asylum and this institution has since flourished into a democratic body with Tibetans electing their own leaders. Since the devolution of political authority by the Dalai Lama in 2011 it is the Sikyong who leads this institution – which is an extension of the Tibetan government in erstwhile independent Tibet.

In this wide-ranging interview, Sikyong Penpa Tsering outlines the Central Tibetan Administration’s priorities for the coming five years, focusing on resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict through the Middle Way Approach, strengthening Tibetan communities in exile, and modernising governance through technology and institutional reform. He discusses China’s policies in Tibet under Xi Jinping, warns of increasing assimilation, surveillance, and restrictions on Tibetan identity, religion, and language particularly under the pretext of China’s ‘Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress’. The Sikyong emphasises the importance of safeguarding the succession of the Dalai Lama from political interference and highlights Tibet’s growing strategic relevance as a source of Asia’s major rivers and a critical environmental region. He also reflects on India–China relations, Tibet’s role as a potential bridge between the two civilizations, the enduring importance of non-violence, and the need for greater international awareness, Tibetan unity, and youth leadership. Finally, he underscores the universal relevance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion, ethical leadership, and human values.

You can watch the interview by clicking on the above visual or visiting our YouTube channel “forfnva”.