China warns against separatism moves ahead of Dalai Lama's expected succession decree

South China Morning Post

9 hours ago

China's top security official has called for the defeat of 'separatism' as he inspected northwestern Qinghai province, birthplace of the exiled
Dalai Lama , three weeks before the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is expected to announce his
succession plan
During a three-day inspection tour that ended on Sunday, Chen Wenqing, secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission and a member of the 24-strong Politburo, said political and legal bodies must fully understand Qinghai's unique geopolitical position.
'Qinghai is a strategic stronghold for maintaining stability in Xinjiang and Tibet,' Chen said, reiterating
the words of Xi Jinping when the Chinese president visited in 2021. 'It is of great importance to safeguard the security and stability of Qinghai.'
02:45
Tibetans in exile march in solidarity with Dalai Lama in India
Tibetans in exile march in solidarity with Dalai Lama in India
Beyond the Tibet autonomous region, there are 10 Tibetan autonomous prefectures across Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces. Although he was born in Qinghai, the 14th Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959 after a failed uprising.
Chen's tour included visits to key security sites, patrols of sensitive locations and field visits to religious and cultural institutions in Xining, according to Xinhua on Sunday.
He attended a symposium on maintaining stability and anti-separatism efforts related to Tibet while in Xining. There, he issued instructions regarding the security and stability of Tibetan-involved prefectures and counties across Tibet and four other provinces.
Chen asked political and legal organs in Qinghai to 'lawfully manage ethnic and religious affairs, enhance emergency preparedness, ensure safety and stability during major events, important periods and sensitive key points, and resolutely win the fight against separatism related to Tibet,' Xinhua said.
Chen's inspection tour comes three weeks before the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on July 6. The spiritual leader has hinted that during the occasion he will reveal his preferred method for selecting his successor.