New Delhi: A new report has exposed an intensifying campaign by Chinese authorities to suppress Tibetan religious and cultural identity, including the burning of traditional prayer flags, demolition of sacred stupas, and replacement of Buddhist symbols with Chinese nationalist emblems.
According to a report published by Ceylon Wire News, a leading Sri Lankan media outlet, Beijing’s actions have reached alarming levels recently, with a sharp escalation under President Xi Jinping. Satellite imagery reveals authorities removing the sacred mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” carved into hillsides and replacing it with Chinese flags. Tibetan nomads are being forced to surrender mani prayer flags — long considered the “soul of Tibet”— to police for incineration, often justified as fire hazard prevention.
In Kham province, around 300 Buddhist stupas were demolished in mid-2025, with debris completely cleared to erase any trace of centuries-old faith. The Central Tibetan Administration condemned these acts as “brazen cultural vandalism,” which has deeply traumatised Tibetans worldwide.
An Italian sociologist of religions, Massimo Introvigne, described the forced removal and burning of prayer flags as “offence and sacrilege,” accusing the CCP of seeking to eliminate Tibetan religion and culture while creating a superficial, tourist-friendly version.
These measures coincide with forced political “re-education” sessions, restrictions on movement and religious practices — especially during the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday celebrations — and severe penalties, including detention and imprisonment, for non-compliance.
The report highlights a broader pattern of coercive assimilation aimed at erasing Tibet’s distinct language, religion, and heritage.