Amid tightened security and increased repression, on August 20, Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, to attend a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the so called “Tibet Autonomous Region” by the Chinese government.[1] The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) is alarmed at additional repressive measures against individual Tibetans, adding to the apparent lack of the CCP’s confidence in its rule over Tibet.

Official Chinese state media, including the Global Times, have reported that Tibetans “warmly welcomed” Xi Jinping upon his arrival at Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport.[2] However, what is notable is that authorities did not publicize the date of the celebrations until 8pm local time Wednesday, August 20, just 12 hours before the ceremony scheduled for 10am Thursday, August 21, 2025.[3]The caution reflects government insecurity, which has been observed by two sources inside Tibet who reported that the city has been under heavy scrutiny for the past few days. The sources described a significant deployment of armed military personnel and a strict security presence. Additionally, former political prisoners and other “suspicious” individuals have been placed under house arrest and are completely restricted from leaving their homes. Another source residing in Nepal added that since August 15, the Chinese government has closed off major pilgrimage sites such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to visitors. All streets in front of the Potala Palace have also been blocked.