On June 25, 2024, Xi Jinping, the President of China, visited the Hongjue Temple in Qinghai Province. This visit did not go unnoticed among Tibetan Buddhists, as it reminded them of the 1951 meeting between his father, Xi Zhongxun, and the controversial 10th Panchen Lama. The consequences of this meeting had a profound impact on the relations between Tibet and China and continue to provoke heated debates. Historical Context In December 1951, Xi Zhongxun, who held the position of Deputy Secretary of the CCP's Northwest Bureau and Deputy Chair of the Northwest Military and Political Committee, arrived at the Hongjue Temple. Under Mao Zedong's directive, he was to meet with the 10th Panchen Lama to convince him to return to Shigatse, Tibet. This meeting laid the foundation for the Panchen Lama's subsequent pro-Chinese stance and his support for China's occupation of Tibet. However, despite the CCP's promises to respect Tibetan culture and religion, the reality turned...
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