The University of Hyderabad recently hosted the All India Conference of Chinese Studies, where the spotlight was on China‘s intensive surveillance practices in Tibet. The second day of this three-day event brought forth startling revelations about the extent of monitoring by the Chinese government in its more restive provinces.
Apa Lhamo, a research fellow at the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy, delved into the invasive surveillance methods employed in Tibet. Utilizing a mix of Tibetan, Chinese, and English sources, Lhamo highlighted how Tibet has become a testing ground for advanced surveillance technologies, including DNA collection. This data is reportedly used to track not only individuals but also their relatives, especially those who might oppose the government’s policies.
Devendra Kumar, an associate fellow at the Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, approached the issue from a financial perspective. In his presentation, he used budgetary data to estimate the Chinese government’s expenditure on its surveillance project in Tibet. “The increasing budget allocation for internal security in the Tibet Autonomous Region, including police, People’s Armed Police, and private security, indicates the level of threat perception by the Chinese government,” Kumar stated, as reported by The Hindu.
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The conference also shed light on the resistance movements in other regions under Chinese control. Ayjaz Ahmad Wani, a fellow in the Strategic Studies Programme at ORF, presented a paper on the resilience of Uyghur women in Xinjiang. Wani’s research showed how these women have resisted forced assimilation policies, such as marriages to Han Chinese, thereby preserving Uyghur culture even during the Cultural Revolution.
The All India Conference of Chinese Studies, which concludes tomorrow, has brought together scholars and experts to discuss and analyze the various facets of China‘s policies and their impact on regions like Tibet and Xinjiang. The findings presented at this conference offer a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by these communities under Chinese governance.
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