Nepal University Cancels Tibet Event Citing Official Order, Government Denies
An international academic conference on Tibet scheduled in Nepal was moved online after organizers were allegedly pressured by the government to cancel it. While the government denies issuing such orders, the incident highlights Nepal's delicate diplomatic balancing act regarding China's sensitivities.
Why it matters
The event underscores the geopolitical pressure China exerts on neighboring countries regarding Tibetan sovereignty and the suppression of academic discourse on the region.
An international academic conference on Tibet due to take place in Nepal this month has been pushed online, organisers said Saturday, calling it a "worrying development".Nepal's government denied that it had ordered the change, though the country is acutely aware of how sensitive the issue of Tibet is to its giant northern neighbour China.Beijing, which in 1950 sent troops to the vast high-altitude plateau it describes as an integral part of China, has long opposed international activities it sees as challenging its sovereignty.The conference of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) was expected to draw key scholars from around the world to Kathmandu University to discuss Tibetan history, culture, religion and society.IATS acting president Francoise Robin, a Tibetan-studies professor at France's National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations, told AFP it was a "very regrettable and worrying development"."We are proceeding with the conference, but it will take place online,"…
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