The number three holds a special meaning in Tibetan culture and its tradition of Buddhism, exemplified by the Three Jewels and the tradition of performing three prostrations.
Three critical days for Tibet-Taiwan relations, from Saturday last week to Monday, culminated in a historic participation of a Tibetan delegation led by Kalon Norzin Dolma and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile Dolma Tsering at the inauguration ceremony of President William Lai (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) in Taipei.
Saturday last week marked the 29th anniversary of the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama. A news conference organized by the Human Rights Network for Taiwan and Tibet (HRNTT), addressed by Zeekyab Rinpoche, the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, alongside Dolma and Tsering, highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the Panchen Lama’s disappearance at age six by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, earning him the unwanted title of the world’s youngest political prisoner.
On Sunday last week, the Tibetan delegation attended the Saga Dawa Festival in Taipei, celebrating Tibetan history and culture. The event, organized by the HRNTT and other organizations, took place at the Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Research Institute, a site emblematic of Taiwan’s democratic heritage. It featured speeches from Taiwanese dignitaries such as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) and Fu Jen Catholic University professor Wu Hao-ren (吳豪人), fostering deeper connections between the Tibetan and Taiwanese communities.
The same day, the delegation met Hsiao. The Tibetan Parliament in Exile later on Facebook said: “We were able to relay our thoughts for deepening support from the Taiwanese government to Tibet.”
Hsiao, known for her support of Tibet, played a pivotal role in setting up the initial Taiwan Parliamentary Group for Tibet.
These events set the stage for the inauguration ceremony on Monday last week. Dolma and Tsering attended as VIP guests, alongside other foreign delegations as honored guests. This marked the first time in recent memory that an official Tibetan delegation received such an honor.
On the same day, the 11th Taiwan Parliamentary Group for Tibet was inaugurated, moderated and led by Hung. Discussions centered on strengthening support for Tibet and its people, with members of the government also being part of the landmark event.
These events underscore an accelerated mutual recognition between Taiwan and the Tibetan government-in-exile, particularly in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. This period has seen more Tibetan delegations invited to Taiwan and several Taiwanese delegations visiting Dharamshala, India. Notably, last year, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and Hung visited Dharamshala, and Dolma also met with then-minister of foreign affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮).
The absence of official Indian representation at the inauguration event, likely an attempt to avoid antagonizing China during India’s general election, further highlights the significance of Tibetan representatives.
Tibetans and Taiwanese advocate for peace with China, adhering to their guiding principles for conflict resolution, championing democracy as the way ahead and preserving their unique identities.
Under Lai and Hsiao, Taiwan-Tibet relations appear promising. Many Tibetan students from India are opting to study in Taiwan of late, laying the foundations for a robust relationship. Organizations like the HRNTT and the Office of Tibet in Taiwan play pivotal roles in strengthening these ties. Under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), Beijing remains wary of these developments. Despite historical challenges, the cooperative efforts between Taiwan and Tibet signal a promising future that must be nurtured.
Tenzing Dhamdul is a research associate at the New Delhi-based Foundation for Non-Violent Alternatives.
In an article published in Newsweek on Monday last week, President William Lai (賴清德) challenged China to retake territories it lost to Russia in the 19th century rather than invade Taiwan. “If it is really for the sake of territorial integrity, why doesn’t China take back Russia?” Lai asked, referring to territories lost in 1858 and 1860. The territories once made up the two flanks of northern Manchuria. Once ceded to Russia, they became part of the Russian far east. Claims since then have been made that China and Russia settled the disputes in the 1990s through the 2000s and that “China
China has successfully held its Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, with 53 of 55 countries from the African Union (AU) participating. The two countries that did not participate were Eswatini and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which have no diplomatic relations with China. Twenty-four leaders were reported to have participated. Despite African countries complaining about summit fatigue, with recent summits held with Russia, Italy, South Korea, the US and Indonesia, as well as Japan next month, they still turned up in large numbers in Beijing. China’s ability to attract most of the African leaders to a summit demonstrates that it is still being
Trips to the Kenting Peninsula in Pingtung County have dredged up a lot of public debate and furor, with many complaints about how expensive and unreasonable lodging is. Some people even call it a tourist “butchering ground.” Many local business owners stake claims to beach areas by setting up parasols and driving away people who do not rent them. The managing authority for the area — Kenting National Park — has long ignored the issue. Ultimately, this has affected the willingness of domestic travelers to go there, causing tourist numbers to plummet. In 2008, Taiwan opened the door to Chinese tourists and in
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) on Thursday was handcuffed and escorted by police to the Taipei Detention Center, after the Taipei District Court ordered that he be detained and held incommunicado for suspected corruption during his tenure as Taipei mayor. The ruling reversed an earlier decision by the same court on Monday last week that ordered Ko’s release without bail. That decision was appealed by prosecutors on Wednesday, leading the High Court to conclude that Ko had been “actively involved” in the alleged corruption and it ordered the district court to hold a second detention hearing. Video clips
RSS