Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 30: President Penpa Tsering of the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) drew attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during an official visit to Tokyo ahead of the 9th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet (WPCT), scheduled for June 3-4.
In a high-level meeting with the Japanese Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet at the National Diet Building, the head of the exile polity urged Japanese lawmakers to reject the CCP-imposed term “Xizang” for Tibet, calling it part of China’s systematic effort to erase Tibetan identity. The meeting was chaired by parliamentarian Eriko Yamatani and moderated by General Secretary Hiroshi Yamada. Prominent journalist and scholar Yoshiko Sakurai, President of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, was also in attendance.
The Tibetan political leader also called for greater global recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s four principal commitments—promotion of human values, interfaith harmony, preservation of Tibetan culture and environment, and revival of ancient Indian wisdom. He appealed to Japanese lawmakers to pass resolutions honoring the life and legacy of His Holiness as his 90th birthday approaches in 2025.
The CTA President extended an invitation to Japanese parliamentarians to participate in Tibetan Democracy Day celebrations this September, reinforcing the long-standing ties between the Japanese Parliament and the Tibetan cause. On June 1, the delegation will meet with the local Tibetan community in Tokyo, further strengthening diaspora engagement.
On May 31, Tsering is scheduled to travel to Osaka, where he will meet local parliamentarians and visit Seifu Gakuin, a school known for its long-standing connection to Tibetan education and culture.
The visit by the CTA leadership which includes Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, and the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Liaison Office for Japan and East Asia marks a strategic effort to mobilise support among democratic nations and renew global advocacy for the Tibetan cause ahead of the 9th WPCT.
