China Tightens Control Over Tibet’s Larung Gar Buddhist Academy

China has deployed 400 military personnel to Tibet's Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, the world’s largest Tibetan Buddhist study center, according to a recent report by CTA. The increased military presence, including helicopter surveillance, signals stricter oversight at the institute, located in Serthar County, Sichuan Province. New regulations in 2025 will cap residency at 15 years, mandate monk and nun registration, and reduce practitioner numbers. This follows past crackdowns, including demolitions in 2001 and 2016-2017, which halved the population. Analysts view the measures as part of China's broader campaign to restrict religious freedom and control Tibetan Buddhist institutions.