Turquoise Roof
@turquoiseroof.org
Turquoise Roof, a portal for briefings on Tibet today - policy, development, insights, stories.
https://turquoiseroof.org/
https://turquoiseroof.org/
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Turquoise Roof
@turquoiseroof.org
· Jun 18
Sacred Authority and State Power
China is intensifying its campaign to eliminate the spiritual leader’s influence and control his succession
turquoiseroof.org
As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, Tibetans worldwide prepare for a ‘Year of Compassion’ celebration. Our new report w/ @sinopsis.cz reveals the global stakes involved in a complex geopolitical struggle that extends beyond Tibet’s borders turquoiseroof.org/sacred-autho...
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A WSJ analysis of satellite images shows clear evidence of the Chinese military’s expanding footprint through a network of facilities that dot the Tibetan plateau.
Chinese Forces Battle Dizzying Altitudes to Expand Military Footprint
A Wall Street Journal analysis of more than 100 satellite images shows clear evidence of the country’s expanding air power and reach.
on.wsj.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:44 AM
A WSJ analysis of satellite images shows clear evidence of the Chinese military’s expanding footprint through a network of facilities that dot the Tibetan plateau.
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The decision over China's new embassy in London has become a flashpoint for the wider debate over how the UK should approach potential national security risks from Beijing.
UK’s indecision over Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ highlights need for a more coherent China policy
The UK government needs a more strategic approach to deal with potential espionage and foreign interference from Beijing.
www.chathamhouse.org
December 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The decision over China's new embassy in London has become a flashpoint for the wider debate over how the UK should approach potential national security risks from Beijing.
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Fears of espionage + interrogation as new Chinese embassy on historic site in #London looks set for approval - report citing @freetibetorg Tenzin Rabga Tashi : abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
Mystery floor plans stoke espionage fears as UK faces its China reckoning
Underneath central London cables carrying vital financial information run and soon China's new embassy, which has redacted floor plans, could sit atop them.
abc.net.au
December 2, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Fears of espionage + interrogation as new Chinese embassy on historic site in #London looks set for approval - report citing @freetibetorg Tenzin Rabga Tashi : abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
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Pro-Tibet activist Zhang Yadi (張雅笛) wanted to see her family, and traveled home to China this summer...she disappeared. Relatives told reporters that the 22-year-old was detained by Chinese authorities and has been in solitary confinement for more than 3 months. www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/a...
Loved ones fear for pro-Tibet student detained while visiting family in China - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Pro-Tibet activist Zhang Yadi (張雅笛) wanted to see her family, and traveled home to China this summer...she disappeared. Relatives told reporters that the 22-year-old was detained by Chinese authorities and has been in solitary confinement for more than 3 months. www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/a...
Congratulations to Gesbeen Mohammad, Guy Creasey, Sofia Fernandez Vyas, & Esella Hawkey for winning the ARTS & CULTURE STORY OF THE YEAR in the @fpalondon.bsky.social Media Awards 2025 for their film:
Inside China: The Battle for Tibet
ITV/FrontlinePBS/@hardcash.bsky.social www.fpalondon-awards.org
Inside China: The Battle for Tibet
ITV/FrontlinePBS/@hardcash.bsky.social www.fpalondon-awards.org
November 30, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Congratulations to Gesbeen Mohammad, Guy Creasey, Sofia Fernandez Vyas, & Esella Hawkey for winning the ARTS & CULTURE STORY OF THE YEAR in the @fpalondon.bsky.social Media Awards 2025 for their film:
Inside China: The Battle for Tibet
ITV/FrontlinePBS/@hardcash.bsky.social www.fpalondon-awards.org
Inside China: The Battle for Tibet
ITV/FrontlinePBS/@hardcash.bsky.social www.fpalondon-awards.org
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Investigation by The Times uncovers the harrowing ordeal of two men arrested at the border with Nepal + held w/o trial in Drapchi prison, #Lhasa. Rapke was denied access to basic medical care until he started vomiting blood and is still haunted by the ordeal www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...
How a hunt for ‘Himalayan viagra’ laid bare China’s iron grip on Tibet
A man detained for months after being found searching for a valuable fungus tells of his harrowing experience at the hands of Beijing’s ruthless security forces
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Investigation by The Times uncovers the harrowing ordeal of two men arrested at the border with Nepal + held w/o trial in Drapchi prison, #Lhasa. Rapke was denied access to basic medical care until he started vomiting blood and is still haunted by the ordeal www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...
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Legal challenge awaits PM Starmer’s approval of China’s super-embassy in London
www.tibetanreview.net/legal-challe...
www.tibetanreview.net/legal-challe...
Legal challenge awaits PM Starmer’s approval of China’s super-embassy in London - Tibetan Review
(TibetanReview.net, Nov29’25) – Concerned residents have threatened to take court action if, as expected, the Labour government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer approves on Dec 10 China’s plans for ...
www.tibetanreview.net
November 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Legal challenge awaits PM Starmer’s approval of China’s super-embassy in London
www.tibetanreview.net/legal-challe...
www.tibetanreview.net/legal-challe...
The Buddhism practised across Asia has shifted. While still widely followed as a nonviolent philosophy, it has been weaponised, in some quarters, in the service of nationalism, & in support of govts embracing a trend toward autocracy
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no... (@soniafaleiro.bsky.social)
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no... (@soniafaleiro.bsky.social)
The dangerous rise of Buddhist extremism: ‘Attaining nirvana can wait’
The long read: Still largely viewed as a peaceful philosophy, across much of south-east Asia, the religion has been weaponised to serve nationalist goals
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The Buddhism practised across Asia has shifted. While still widely followed as a nonviolent philosophy, it has been weaponised, in some quarters, in the service of nationalism, & in support of govts embracing a trend toward autocracy
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no... (@soniafaleiro.bsky.social)
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no... (@soniafaleiro.bsky.social)
London screening of: “Milarepa” by Louis Nero (2025).
A captivating film set in a post-apocalyptic world, reinterpreting the life of the #Tibetan Buddhist master through Mila, a young girl seeking revenge for her father's death.
billetto.co.uk/e/milarepa-b... (ICI, Nov 26 2025 18:30)
A captivating film set in a post-apocalyptic world, reinterpreting the life of the #Tibetan Buddhist master through Mila, a young girl seeking revenge for her father's death.
billetto.co.uk/e/milarepa-b... (ICI, Nov 26 2025 18:30)
Milarepa by Louis Nero
A brand-new film series celebrating the vision and creativity of Italian independent filmmakers is ...
billetto.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
London screening of: “Milarepa” by Louis Nero (2025).
A captivating film set in a post-apocalyptic world, reinterpreting the life of the #Tibetan Buddhist master through Mila, a young girl seeking revenge for her father's death.
billetto.co.uk/e/milarepa-b... (ICI, Nov 26 2025 18:30)
A captivating film set in a post-apocalyptic world, reinterpreting the life of the #Tibetan Buddhist master through Mila, a young girl seeking revenge for her father's death.
billetto.co.uk/e/milarepa-b... (ICI, Nov 26 2025 18:30)
Reposted by Turquoise Roof
NEW EPISODE: Join NüVoices host and co-founder Joanna Chiu joins China human rights researcher Maya Wang to discuss the current state of China human rights advocacy amid Beijing's growing transnational oppression and the US cut of international aid:
NüVoices Podcast #126: A Conversation with Maya Wang on the Future of Chinese Human Rights Advocacy
This week, NüVoices host and co-founder Joanna Chiu joins China human rights researcher Maya Wang to discuss the current state of China human rights advocacy amid Beijing’s growing transnational oppression and the US cut of international aid.
nuvoices.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:00 PM
NEW EPISODE: Join NüVoices host and co-founder Joanna Chiu joins China human rights researcher Maya Wang to discuss the current state of China human rights advocacy amid Beijing's growing transnational oppression and the US cut of international aid:
Reposted by Turquoise Roof
“Ocean, As Much As Rain: Stories, Lyrical Prose, and Poems from #Tibet” By Tsering Woeser @woeser.bsky.social Available for Preorder @dukepress.bsky.social
Beautiful cover art by Tenzing Rigdol, foreword by Pankaj Mishra. Publication date Feb 10, 2026!
Info: highpeakspureearth.com/ocean-as-muc...
Beautiful cover art by Tenzing Rigdol, foreword by Pankaj Mishra. Publication date Feb 10, 2026!
Info: highpeakspureearth.com/ocean-as-muc...
“Ocean, As Much As Rain: Stories, Lyrical Prose, and Poems from Tibet” By Tsering Woeser Available for Preorder
We are delighted to share that “Ocean, As Much As Rain: Stories, Lyrical Prose, and Poems from Tibet” by Tsering Woeser, translated and edited by Fiona Sze-Lorrain with Dechen Pemba (Du…
highpeakspureearth.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:11 PM
“Ocean, As Much As Rain: Stories, Lyrical Prose, and Poems from #Tibet” By Tsering Woeser @woeser.bsky.social Available for Preorder @dukepress.bsky.social
Beautiful cover art by Tenzing Rigdol, foreword by Pankaj Mishra. Publication date Feb 10, 2026!
Info: highpeakspureearth.com/ocean-as-muc...
Beautiful cover art by Tenzing Rigdol, foreword by Pankaj Mishra. Publication date Feb 10, 2026!
Info: highpeakspureearth.com/ocean-as-muc...
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China is weaponising sacred Buddhist rituals for political control. In October, Beijing's appointed Panchen Lama led a Kalachakra empowerment at Tashi Lhunpo monastery—one of Tibetan Buddhism's most sacred ceremonies. Tibet Watch report explores what this means: tibetwatch.org/setting-a-re...
Setting a Religious Trap
On 9-12 October, Gyaltsen Norbu, Beijing’s appointed 11th Panchen Lama, led a four-day Kalachakra empowerment - one of the most sacred initiations in Tibetan Buddhist practice - at Tashi Lhunpo monast...
tibetwatch.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
China is weaponising sacred Buddhist rituals for political control. In October, Beijing's appointed Panchen Lama led a Kalachakra empowerment at Tashi Lhunpo monastery—one of Tibetan Buddhism's most sacred ceremonies. Tibet Watch report explores what this means: tibetwatch.org/setting-a-re...
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“Another area that worries #UK security officials is China's predilection for spying on dissidents, known as #transnationalrepression, something that has been a primary target for Chinese intelligence for years with a focus on groups like #Tibetan campaigners.” www.bbc.com/news/article...
October 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
“Another area that worries #UK security officials is China's predilection for spying on dissidents, known as #transnationalrepression, something that has been a primary target for Chinese intelligence for years with a focus on groups like #Tibetan campaigners.” www.bbc.com/news/article...
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Zhang Yadi: "I don’t think she expected this heavy charge, because we are not advocating for separatism". London-bound international #Chinese student held in #China for #Tibet support www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘She didn’t realise how dangerous it was’: London-bound student held in China over Tibet support
Zhang Yadi was due to begin a degree in the UK but the activist vanished on holiday amid tensions over Dalai Lama
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Zhang Yadi: "I don’t think she expected this heavy charge, because we are not advocating for separatism". London-bound international #Chinese student held in #China for #Tibet support www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
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#China govt efforts to legislate "ethnic unity" doesn't protect existing #humanrights. Rather, it sets up even more #arbitrarydetentions on baseless charges of "splittism," "separatism"; runs contrary to intl law obligations, including #CERD. @chrdnet.bsky.social
npcobserver.com/legislation/...
npcobserver.com/legislation/...
Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress - NPC Observer
Texts, legislative records, translations (if any), and related coverage of China's Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. - Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity a
npcobserver.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
#China govt efforts to legislate "ethnic unity" doesn't protect existing #humanrights. Rather, it sets up even more #arbitrarydetentions on baseless charges of "splittism," "separatism"; runs contrary to intl law obligations, including #CERD. @chrdnet.bsky.social
npcobserver.com/legislation/...
npcobserver.com/legislation/...
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Behind “ethnic unity” slogans, the CCP is deepening controls on #Tibetans: restricting religion, language & culture under weiwen (“stability maintenance”). #Surveillance & coercion aim to erode Tibetan identity.
September 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Behind “ethnic unity” slogans, the CCP is deepening controls on #Tibetans: restricting religion, language & culture under weiwen (“stability maintenance”). #Surveillance & coercion aim to erode Tibetan identity.
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A newly proposed law in China would provide a broad legal framework to justify existing repression and force assimilation of minority populations in China and abroad.
This is a blatant effort to control people’s thoughts and expression about China.
This is a blatant effort to control people’s thoughts and expression about China.
China: Draft ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law Tightens Ideological Control
A newly proposed law in China would provide a broad legal framework to justify existing repression and force assimilation of minority populations throughout the country and abroad.
www.hrw.org
September 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A newly proposed law in China would provide a broad legal framework to justify existing repression and force assimilation of minority populations in China and abroad.
This is a blatant effort to control people’s thoughts and expression about China.
This is a blatant effort to control people’s thoughts and expression about China.
“ .. #Tibetans, #Uyghurs, and others who speak out for minority populations can expect even greater government repression.” @mayawang.bsky.social (HRW)
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
China: Draft ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law Tightens Ideological Control
A newly proposed law in China would provide a broad legal framework to justify existing repression and force assimilation of minority populations throughout the country and abroad.
www.hrw.org
September 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM
“ .. #Tibetans, #Uyghurs, and others who speak out for minority populations can expect even greater government repression.” @mayawang.bsky.social (HRW)
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...
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Good to see these concerns about environmental damage done by fireworks in #Tibet; better still to also see it about mega-dams like #YarlungTsangpo, mines, roads, and other infrastructure projects causing serious harms.
September 28, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Good to see these concerns about environmental damage done by fireworks in #Tibet; better still to also see it about mega-dams like #YarlungTsangpo, mines, roads, and other infrastructure projects causing serious harms.
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My favourite film from TIFF was Kunsang Kyirong's ‘100 Sunset’, about a young, almost mute, Tibetan-Canadian woman who steals a camcorder to spy on people in her apartment building. It felt so fresh and full of energy and thrillingly unpredictable. You can read my FIPRESCI essay about it here:
100 Sunset: The Rise Of A New Filmmaking Talent
fipresci.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:49 AM
My favourite film from TIFF was Kunsang Kyirong's ‘100 Sunset’, about a young, almost mute, Tibetan-Canadian woman who steals a camcorder to spy on people in her apartment building. It felt so fresh and full of energy and thrillingly unpredictable. You can read my FIPRESCI essay about it here:
Reposted by Turquoise Roof
“For all four years of my exile, we’ve done things knowing there is a risk, even sometimes life and death,” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.”
A Curator Flees Bangkok After China Deems His Art Show Too Provocative
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
“For all four years of my exile, we’ve done things knowing there is a risk, even sometimes life and death,” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.”
Reposted by Turquoise Roof
Outdoor clothing brand Archteryx forced to apologise
for its fireworks display in #Tibet w/ a Chinese artist- in complete contradiction to the brand's claims of commitment to conservation - after facing backlash for its potential impacts on the fragile ecosystem: edition.cnn.com/2025/09/22/w...
for its fireworks display in #Tibet w/ a Chinese artist- in complete contradiction to the brand's claims of commitment to conservation - after facing backlash for its potential impacts on the fragile ecosystem: edition.cnn.com/2025/09/22/w...
September 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Outdoor clothing brand Archteryx forced to apologise
for its fireworks display in #Tibet w/ a Chinese artist- in complete contradiction to the brand's claims of commitment to conservation - after facing backlash for its potential impacts on the fragile ecosystem: edition.cnn.com/2025/09/22/w...
for its fireworks display in #Tibet w/ a Chinese artist- in complete contradiction to the brand's claims of commitment to conservation - after facing backlash for its potential impacts on the fragile ecosystem: edition.cnn.com/2025/09/22/w...
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Jerome A. Cohen, 1930-2025
donaldclarke.substack.com/p/jerome-a-c...
donaldclarke.substack.com/p/jerome-a-c...
Jerome A. Cohen, 1930-2025
On Monday night I received the very sad news that Jerome Cohen had passed away that day at 95.
donaldclarke.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Jerome A. Cohen, 1930-2025
donaldclarke.substack.com/p/jerome-a-c...
donaldclarke.substack.com/p/jerome-a-c...
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« Exprimer sa solidarité avec les Tibétains et les Ouïgours et promouvoir leurs droits n’est pas un crime. Zhang Yadi est la dernière victime en date des arrestations politiques de Pékin » - @yalkun.bsky.social ⤵
Zhang Yadi, étudiante chinoise en France et militante pro-Tibet, arrêtée lors d’un séjour en Chine
Zhang Yadi, étudiante chinoise en France et militante pro-Tibet, arrêtée lors d’un séjour en Chine
La jeune femme écrivait notamment pour « Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet », un site d’information en mandarin. Cet engagement peut lui valoir l’accusation de séparatisme.
www.lemonde.fr
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
« Exprimer sa solidarité avec les Tibétains et les Ouïgours et promouvoir leurs droits n’est pas un crime. Zhang Yadi est la dernière victime en date des arrestations politiques de Pékin » - @yalkun.bsky.social ⤵
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Good new piece on protests in Nepal & other places by the BBC's @tessawong.bsky.social www.bbc.com/news/article... /brings in historical precedents for protest waves affecting multiple parts of Asia (a theme in The Milk Tea Alliance, my new @columbiagr.bsky.social book), includes a quote by me
The mass protests in Asia show the power of Gen Z - and its limit
Anti-corruption demonstrations, powered by social media, have toppled a government - but will they lead to lasting change?
www.bbc.com
September 24, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Good new piece on protests in Nepal & other places by the BBC's @tessawong.bsky.social www.bbc.com/news/article... /brings in historical precedents for protest waves affecting multiple parts of Asia (a theme in The Milk Tea Alliance, my new @columbiagr.bsky.social book), includes a quote by me