Reconfiguring and Reframing Tibet for the Shifting Geopolitics of Asia and the World

This conference delves into the paradox at the heart of Tibet’s diminishing presence in international geopolitics.

Despite the escalating tensions between China and major global powers—such as the U.S., European Union, Japan, and India—Tibet’s plight has slipped into the shadows. The conference seeks to unravel why Tibet, once a focal point of global attention, has faded from the strategic radar, even as China’s repressive policies in Tibet intensify under Xi Jinping. This gathering of eminent scholars, practitioners and civil society leaders will confront the perplexing gap between the expected surge in interest due to the heightened geopolitical stakes and the stark reality of Tibet's declining visibility.

As China’s actions increasingly draw international concern, from its military posturing to its global ambitions, Tibet has seemingly become an afterthought in the political calculations of world powers. The irony is profound: while global sentiment against China hardens, and the repression in Tibet deepens, the issue of Tibet is conspicuously absent from international discourse. The conference will explore how Tibetans and their supporters can reframe the Tibet issue, not merely as a human rights cause, but as a matter of geopolitical significance. It will examine how and to what extent Tibet can be reinserted into key bilateral and regional discussions, particularly in the context of the evolving relationships between China and other major powers.

By analyzing the shifts in global and regional politics, and the evolving strategies of nations like the U.S. and India towards China, the conference aims to develop innovative narratives and strategies to restore Tibet’s relevance in international affairs. The goal is to anticipate future geopolitical shifts and equip Tibetans to navigate an increasingly volatile global landscape, ensuring Tibet's voice is not just heard, but influential in shaping the geopolitical realities of tomorrow.

This conference has been generously funded by Giusueppe Kaiser Foundation (Switzerland).

Day 1: 26th June 2025

Venue: G15 Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham

Registration, Tea & Coffee: 09:00-09:45

Welcome & Introductory Remarks: Tsering Topgyal: 09:45-10.00

Keynote: Professor Michael Green
Georgetown University & United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney (Virtual)
10:00-11:30

Break: 11:30-11:45

Panel 1: China’s Tibet Policies & the State of the Tibet Movement
11:45-13:30
• Katia Buffetrille, École pratique des hautes études (EPHE)
• Kelsang Gyaltsen, Switzerland, Member of the Tibet Task group of the Central Tibetan Administration
• Carole McGranahan, University of Colorado, Boulder
• Charles Parton OBE, Former British Diplomat and Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy

Lunch: 13:30-14:30

Panel 2: Reconfiguring & Reframing Tibet as an Asian Geostrategic Issue
14:30-15:45
• Dibyesh Anand, University of Westminster
• Ming-chin Monique Chu, University of Southampton
• Jagannath Panda, Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs
• Greg Walton, SecDev

Break: 15:45-16:00

Informal Activity: TBC
16:00-17:00

Day 2: 27th June 2025

Venue: 420 Muirhead Tower, University of Birmingham

Coffee & Tea: 09:30-10:00

Panel 3: Tibet in India’s Geostrategic Calculus towards China
10:00-11:45
• Kalpit Mankikar, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi
• Jagannath Panda, Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs
• Dilip Sinha, Former Indian ambassador and author
• Jigme Yeshi Lama, University of Calcutta

Break: 11:45-12:00

Panel 4: Tibet & US-China Relations
12:00-13:30
• Tenzin Dorjee, Columbia University & Tibet Action Institute
• Bhuchung K. Tsering, ICT
• Allen Carlson, Cornell University (Virtual)

Lunch: 13:30-14:30

Panel 5: The Looming Struggle over His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Reincarnation
14:30-16:00
• Tenzin Dorjee (Columbia University and Tibet Action)
• Sonika Gupta, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
• Dilip Sinha, Former Indian ambassador and author

Roundtable on the Future of Tibet: Challenges and opportunities, strategies and narratives
16:00-17:00