Chen Wenqing, China’s top security official and a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo, has called on provinces neighboring Tibet to take a “clear stand” against ethnic separatism and ensure national security, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). The call was made during Chen’s inspection trip to Gansu, a northwestern province of China, and was aimed at maintaining long-term peace and stability in regions with significant Tibetan populations.
Chinese Communist Party have territorially fragmented Tibet into Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR, or Xizang) and Qinghai Province, and as “autonomous” prefectures in its Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces.
Chen, who is also the chief of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, emphasized the need for provincial security officials to “take the initiative to prevent and control risks.” His remarks were made at a meeting held in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu, which was the final stop of his three-day trip to the province. Gannan is one of 10 Tibetan autonomous prefectures in China and is home to nearly 430,000 ethnic Tibetans, making up 57% of the prefecture’s population.
The security chief’s call extends to Tibetan autonomous prefectures in Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan provinces as well. Chen had previously delivered similar messages about security during trips to Xinjiang Uygur and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions earlier this year. He praised previous security efforts as “effective” but urged officials to act with a higher sense of urgency on counterterrorism and stability initiatives.
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According to an unnamed researcher from Minzu University in Beijing cited by SCMP, Chen’s recent trip suggests that China’s leadership believes they have largely brought Tibet and Xinjiang under control following years of stringent crackdowns. The focus is now shifting to peripheral areas where many Uygurs, Tibetans, and Hui reside.
Chen, a close confidant of Chinese President Xi Jinping, was promoted to his current role during the national party congress last October. He oversees the country’s police, prosecutors, judges, prisons, and top spy agencies. Before his promotion, he served as the country’s state security minister.
China has long faced international criticism for its treatment of ethnic minorities, particularly Uygurs and Tibetans. Despite this, President Xi has defended Beijing’s ethnic policies in these regions as “totally correct,” insisting that the security measures are necessary to prevent terrorist attacks.
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