China’s Tightened Travel Restrictions Severely Limit Tibetan Movement

China's intensified restrictions are severely limiting the movement of ethnic Tibetans, both within Tibet and across borders. Strict measures like checkpoints, bureaucratic hurdles, and increased surveillance have made it difficult for Tibetans to travel, especially near international borders. This crackdown, which began after the 2008 protests, has drastically reduced the number of Tibetans fleeing to exile in India, with arrivals in Dharamshala dropping from over 2,000 annually in the early 2000s to just 15 in 2023. Many Tibetans continue to face obstacles in obtaining passports and traveling freely.