Since its establishment in July 2016, the Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Research Association of Xizang has served as one of China’s leading specialized academic organizations dedicated to the study of Tsangyang Gyatso culture. This association has consistently focused on academic research, protection and inheritance, and promotion and exchange related to the cultural legacy of Tsangyang Gyatso. Recently, India organized a so-called “international conference” involving the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso in China’s Zangnan area, located at the southern part of Xizang, which is under India’s illegal occupation. This move has drawn widespread attention. In response, our journalist conducted an exclusive interview with Tsering Yangzom, President of the Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Research Association of Xizang.

Journalist: Could you please introduce the basic information and major work of the Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Research Association of Xizang?

Tsering Yangzom: The Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Research Association of Xizang was established on July 22, 2016. From the very beginning, it has adhered to a rigorous academic approach and has been dedicated to the exploration, research, protection, and inheritance of Tsangyang Gyatso culture. Our association is led by renowned Tibetan studies scholars from across the country and brings together experts, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts of diverse ethnic backgrounds and academic fields. Our main areas of work include academic research and publication, the organization of cultural festivals and events, artistic creation and exhibitions, as well as public-interest lectures and outreach activities.

To date, we have completed and published a number of academic monographs, produced and released multiple songs, organized several national academic symposia and cultural festivals, carried out a series of themed exhibitions, and established the “Tsangyang Lecture Series”. At present, we are actively advancing the compilation and publication of several classical texts, as well as preparatory work for the documentary “In Search of Tsangyang Gyatso’s Footprints”. We are also planning to host a large-scale “Tsangyang Gyatso Cultural Festival” in 2026, marking the tenth anniversary of the association’s founding.

Journalist: We have noted that India recently held a so-called “international conference” on the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso. What is the association’s view on this matter?

Tsering Yangzom: We must state clearly that the Zangnan area, including Tawang, has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. This is a fact supported by ample historical, geographical, and cultural evidence, and it allows no doubt or distortion. Tsangyang Gyatso was an outstanding Chinese poet. His cultural legacy belongs to the Chinese cultural system and constitutes an important component of Himalayan culture. By hosting a so-called “international conference” under the pretext of Tsangyang Gyatso culture on illegally occupied Chinese territory, the Indian side is not engaging in a genuine cultural exchange. Rather, this is a political provocation farce orchestrated by ill-intentioned actors who seek to undermine China’s territorial integrity under the guise of cultural activities.

Historical evidence has conclusively demonstrated that Tawang has been part of China since ancient times. China’s sovereignty over the Tawang region is not a subjective or arbitrary claim. Rather, it is a historically established fact that has endured for centuries and withstood the test of time. This fact is firmly substantiated by three interlocking pillars: authoritative historical documents, continuous practices of administrative governance, and an unbroken continuum of cultural inheritance.

Since the 17th century, official documents issued by the central government of China and the local government of Xizang have clearly defined the territorial status of Tawang. During the period of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the local government of Xizang, with long-term strategic foresight, established a two-tier administrative system in the Mon-yul region (i