China Puts Tibet at the Heart of National Strategy Ahead of 2025 Anniversary

The roots of the current emphasis stretch back to the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet in 1951 and the subsequent Seventeen‑Point Agreement, which the Communist Party hailed as the foundation for national unity, border security and the eradication of the theocratic system that had long governed the plateau. In the decades that followed, Beijing convened a series of seven Tibet work forums, each one sharpening the Party’s strategic vision for the region. The latest of those gatherings, the Seventh Tibet Work Forum held in August 2020 and attended by President Xi Jinping himself, set out a detailed blueprint that links Tibet’s stability and “high‑quality development” directly to the broader goals of the Party’s new era.

Since the 18th National Congress in 2012, Xi Jinping has repeatedly underscored Tibet’s role in China’s grand narrative. In speeches at the Central Ethnic Work Conference in 2021, he called the forging of a “community of shared destiny” the “key link” of the Party’s ethnic work, signalling that policies on language, religion and economic development are to be coordinated with national priorities. The “New Era Strategy for Governing Tibet,” articulated in those forums, rests on ten “must‑dos” that reinforce Party leadership, the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and the regional autonomy framework.

The imminent 2025 milestone has amplified the messaging. State‑run outlets such as Zhangjiajie Daily have circulated the hashtag #习言道#【#西藏工作关系党和国家工作大局#】, pairing it with celebratory remarks about the upcoming anniversary. While a single Weibo post cannot capture the full spectrum of public sentiment, the official amplification suggests a concerted propaganda push, designed to portray the achievements of the past six decades—improved infrastructure, rising incomes, and what authorities label “human‑rights progress”—as evidence that Tibetan development is integral to China’s overall advancement.

Key figures loom large in the historical narrative. Mao Zedong’s 1957 letters to the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama, and Premier Zhou Enlai’s diplomatic efforts with India that same year, are frequently cited as early demonstrations of the Party’s commitment to a unified China. Today, Xi Jinping stands as the central architect of the current strategy, his thought on “socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era” serving as the guiding framework for every policy decision affecting the plateau.

Behind the scenes, a suite of Party and state organs orchestrates the effort. The Communist Party’s Central Committee formulates the overall direction; the State Council translates those decisions into administrative action; the Tibetan regional government implements them on the ground; and the United Front Work Department shapes ethnic and religious policy to ensure loyalty to the central leadership. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, while largely consultative, also contributes to the broader discourse on national unity.

In practice, the renewed emphasis translates into concrete projects: massive rail and highway extensions that bind the region more tightly to the rest of the country, renewable‑energy installations touted as part of an “ecological civilization,” and educational initiatives aimed at enhancing Mandarin proficiency among Tibetan youths. Officials repeatedly stress that these measures not only raise living standards but also fortify “national security” and “social stability,” concepts that are inseparable from the Party’s overarching agenda.

The phrase “Tibet work is closely related to the overall work of the CPC and the country,” therefore, functions as more than a slogan. It encapsulates a decades‑long evolution—from the post‑liberation reforms of the 1950s to today’s high‑tech infrastructure drives—framed as an essential component of China’s national development. As the 2025 anniversary approaches, Beijing is likely to intensify its messaging, using both traditional media and state‑controlled digital platforms to reinforce the narrative that Tibet’s fortunes are bound to the destiny of the whole nation.