Prominent French museums face criticism for replacing ‘Tibet’ with ‘Xizang’ under Chinese influence

Tenzin Nyidon

DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 8: Two prominent museums in France, the Musée du quai Branly and the Musée Guimet have come under scrutiny from a group of leading scholars, mostly sinologists and Tibetologists, for succumbing to Chinese demands to rewrite and distort the history and cultural identity of Tibet.

According to the French newspaper Le Monde, the Musée du quai Branly has reportedly replaced “Tibet” with “Xizang Autonomous Region,” the romanised version of a Chinese term, in its catalogue of Tibetan artefacts. Similarly, the Musée Guimet has renamed its exhibition spaces dedicated to Tibet as the “Himalayan world.”

In a joint letter addressed to the museums, the group of scholars condemned these changes, criticising the willingness of French museums to allow external influence in rewriting history. They warned that such actions reflect “a concerning level of weakness” and further emphasised that “our scientific and cultural institutions must, as a matter of the utmost urgency, reject any interference by undemocratic foreign regimes.”

The report highlights the broader trend in France, where certain French institutions, including universities hosting Confucius Institutes, have inadvertently become platforms for Chinese propaganda. These institutes, funded by the Chinese government, aim to endorse and promote ideologies that align with Xi Jinping’s thoughts. In recent years, these institutes have come under increasing scrutiny for their role in spreading  Chinese state propaganda on university campuses and influencing university programs, distorting history, and even spying on Chinese students abroad. Reports indicate that growing concerns have led to the closure of these institutes in 11 countries, including Canada, the USA, Australia, France, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.

The shift from “Tibet” to “Xizang” in the French museums is tied to discussions at the 7th International Seminar on Tibetan Studies, held in Beijing from August 14 to 16. This seminar attracted over 320 attendees, including more than 40 scholars from outside China. Professor Wang Linping, associated with the College of Marxism at Harbin Engineering University, played a key role in promoting the term “Xizang.” He argued that the name “Tibet” misrepresented the geographical boundaries of the region and created misunderstandings on the global stage. To address this, he advocated for “Xizang” as a more accurate term that better reflects the region’s true scope.

Although “Xizang” has gained popularity in pro-CCP media, critics see this linguistic shift as part of China’s broader effort to reshape international perceptions of Tibet and reinforce its claim over the region. Similar tactics have been employed in other occupied regions, with the term “Xinjiang” being used internationally to describe East Turkestan, aligning with China’s narrative of control.