Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 23: The British Museum in London is facing growing criticism over its use of the term “Xizang” in its Silk Roads exhibition, which Tibetan groups accuse of misrepresenting Tibetan heritage and supporting China’s narrative on Tibet.
Tibetan community leaders and human rights groups in England have demanded the removal of the term “Xizang Autonomous Region” from exhibition materials, arguing that it distorts Tibet’s cultural identity.
The controversy emerged from the museum’s use of the phrase “Tibet or Xizang Autonomous Region” in labels and catalogues describing Tibetan artefacts. Critics argue that this language disregards Tibet’s historical and political context, reinforcing the Chinese government’s narrative on Tibet.
Tsering Passang, Founder and Chairman of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM), expressed concern, stating, “The British Museum’s adoption of ‘Xizang Autonomous Region’ misrepresents Tibet and contributes to efforts to erase Tibetan culture and history.”
The museum’s Silk Roads exhibition, which opened in September 2024, highlights cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe between 500 and 1000 CE. However, the terminology used to describe Tibetan objects has drawn sharp criticism. In a letter to the museum’s director, Dr. Nicholas Cullinan OBE, both GATPM and the Tibetan community in Britain requested that the term be removed, asserting that it legitimises China’s claims over Tibet.
“This issue is not just about language,” said Phuntsok Norbu, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain. “It is about how history and culture are presented to the public. By using the term ‘Xizang,’ the museum diminishes Tibetan identity.”
Tibetan groups are now demanding immediate action, including the removal of the term “Xizang” from all materials, a public apology to the Tibetan community, and consultations with Tibetan scholars to ensure future exhibitions reflect Tibetan history properly. “The British Museum must ensure it does not become a platform for Chinese propaganda,” said Passang. “This is a matter of respect for Tibetan culture and history.”
In its response to the initial complaint, the British Museum defended the use of “Tibet or Xizang Autonomous Region,” claiming it reflects the current political designation of the region. However, critics argue that this position overlooks the political implications of such terminology. “This is not just about labels; it’s about the museum’s role in shaping global understanding of a culture under threat,” said Norbu. Tibetan groups are calling for the British Museum to uphold ethical standards in its exhibitions. “The museum has a responsibility to present history with integrity and accuracy,” Passang stated.
The incident also highlights a broader pattern of controversy regarding the representation of Tibet in international museums and institutions. This controversy is not isolated to the British Museum. Other prominent institutions, such as the Musée du Quai Branly and Musée Guimet in Paris, have similarly adopted terms like “Xizang” and “Himalayan World,” which critics argue dilute Tibetan identity and support Beijing’s political agenda.
In September, the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris responded to widespread public outcry by removing the term “Xizang” from its descriptions of Tibetan artefacts. The museum reverted to using “Tibet” in its catalogue and exhibition labels for items related to Tibet following pressure from the Tibetan community and human rights groups. However, the Musée Guimet has resisted similar demands. After 12 protests, the museum’s director, Yannick Lintz, refused to rename its exhibit “Himalayan World” to “Tibet,” despite calls from Tibetan advocates who contend that the current title undermines Tibet’s cultural and historical significance.
British regime is thousand times worse than CCP and what we can expect from her. It had divided many Asian sovereign coutries into two and left unending problems. I consider this country is our first enemy than CCP. If you throw helpless animal into lion’s cave, no doubt he will enjoy picnic. Same thing British did with Tibet. It surrendered our sovereignty to Communist China. It is totally shameless and uncivilized country according to my understanding of the history.
The British museum should be ashamed of being a platform for Communist China’s propaganda! The British are more knowledgable about Tibet than any other country owing to British India’s connection with independent Tibet. Britain’s imperialist colonial legacy is blood, sweat and tears for millions of innocent people across the world! Look at Palestine, it has been hundred years of conflict because of British and American imperialism that has wrecked the lives of the people of the land and spilled the blood of thousands of children and orphaned and maimed thousands and thousands of innocent Palestine children with bombs supplied by the imperialists to push their colonial project! In Tibet, the British played double game of appeasing the Chinese while deceiving the Tibetans by assuring them of their sovereignty. The notion of so called Chinese suzerainity was created by the imperialist British in cahoots with Russian and Chinese imperialists! In order to prevent Czarist Russia getting a foothold in Tibet, the British colluded with the Chinese and signed a document in 1907 that stated that “neither Russia nor Britain would have direct access to Tibet without going through China”. This was the imperialist instrument that diminished Tibet’s sovereignty and fed Chinese imperialist ambitions on Tibet. All these imperialist agreements were signed over the head of the Tibetan Government! As a result, communist China invaded and illegally occupied Tibet claiming “sovereignty” which is baseless since the British NEVER ACCEPTED CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY OVER TIBET! It was only “suzerainty”. However, British imperialism sowed the seeds of Chinese imperialism to invade and occupy Tibet exactly like the Balfour Declaration sowed the seeds of West Asia’s perpetual war and blood soaked history of ethnic cleansing and occupation. The future situation in occupied Tibet has the potential to turn exactly like Palestine. Tibetans will never accept Chinese occupation of Tibet just as Palestinians are rejecting Israeli occupation of their country! As a result there will be perpetual bloodshed. THE ERRING BRITISH MUSEUM MUST CORRECT ITS UNETHICAL, SHAMELESS CAPITULATION and INSENSITIVE ACT OF BETRAYAL AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE HISTORY OF TIBET WHICH IT IS WELL AWARE OF!!! DON’TSELL YOUR SOUL TO THE CHINESE DICTATORS FOR A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS! HAVE SOME DIGNITY! The Tibetan community in London must orchestrate a campaign for the removable of the abominable Chinese colonial nomenclature and instead make them acknowledge that the artefacts are from TIBET and therefore MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS SUCH!
It is such a shame!!!!