Key facts
- Nepal's government ordered Kathmandu University to cancel an international conference on Tibetan studies.
- The cancellation followed pressure from the Chinese ambassador to Nepal.
- The conference was intended to bring together 720 scholars from 39 countries.
- The event was organized by the International Association for Tibetan Studies.
- China's new Ethnic Unity Law took effect on July 1, tightening ideological conformity in Tibet.
Nepal's government has ordered Kathmandu University to cancel a prestigious international conference on Tibetan studies, a move attributed to sustained pressure from the Chinese ambassador to Nepal. The seminar, which had been in preparation for nearly four years, was set to convene 720 scholars from 39 countries.
According to reports, the cancellation was not the result of a formal protest or explicit demand from China, but rather a campaign of diplomatic suggestion that led to self-censorship by the Nepali government. The Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Zhang Maoming, had met with Nepali officials to express concerns that some individuals might speak against China or in support of Tibet, and highlighted the potential for the event to be used by supporters of the Dalai Lama.