phayul.com (news and views on Tibet)

10/09/2026

The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA), the only women’s organisation in the Tibetan exile community, on Thursday commemorated the 42nd anniversary of its re-establishment in exile at an event held at the Tibetan Settlement Office in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.

TWA President Tsering Dolma reaffirmed the association’s continued commitment to the Middle Way Approach, describing it as a longstanding conviction rooted in dialogue and sustained deliberation. “The Middle Way Approach remains the path the Association walks,” she said, noting that the vision was carried forward by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the policy adopted by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) following years of discussion and collective engagement. She emphasised that the position was not adopted hastily but developed through “sustained discussion and a shared commitment.”

The TWA President condemned China’s recently enacted “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress,” which formally came into effect on July 1, 2026, stating that the legislation would intensify efforts to assimilate Tibetans and erode their distinct cultural identity.

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10/09/2026

Tibetan independence group, Tibetan National Congress (TNC) has strongly condemned five Tibetan organisations for publicly “welcoming” Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his expected visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit on September 12–13, accusing them of using a “language of honour and deference” towards the Chinese leader while Tibet remains under repressive Chinese colonial rule.

The statement titled “DICTATOR XI JINPING IS NOT WELCOME,” came a day after the Central Tibet (U-Tsang) Regional Association, Kham Regional Association, Amdo Regional Association, Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA), and Global Middle Way Movement held a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on September 8.

The organisations presented an open letter addressed to Xi as “His Excellency” and welcomed his visit, urging Beijing to resume meaningful dialogue on the Tibet issue under the Middle Way Approach. They also called on the Chinese leadership to use Xi’s visit as an opportunity to open a “new meaningful engagement” in Sino-Tibet relations.

The statement and the conciliatory language used in addressing Xi have since triggered considerable discussion and criticism online, with some Tibetan netizens questioning the decision to publicly “welcome” a Chinese leader while Tibetans inside occupied Tibet continue to face repression and political coercion.

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09/09/2026

A dramatic diplomatic confrontation unfolded at a defence forum in Seoul on Tuesday after Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was handed a note from Chinese representatives while he was speaking about the South China Sea dispute.

Teodoro read it aloud before the audience and then publicly challenged China’s position, which reiterated Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling that found China’s sweeping claims in the disputed waters had no legal basis. “I have a note here. I think this is from China. And may I read it?” Teodoro said before reading the message, which stated that China’s position on the South China Sea arbitration was “clear, consistent and firm” and that the arbitration violated fundamental principles of international law.

Teodoro responded sharply, describing China’s conduct as “coercion, bullying, and aggression.” He said he would keep the note as an example of what he characterised as China’s desperation and the ineffectiveness of its position before an international audience.

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09/09/2026

Tibetan heritage footballer Cheveyo Tsawa has made history by becoming the first player of Tibetan heritage to represent a club in the UEFA Champions League, marking a significant milestone for Tibetan representation on one of football’s biggest stages.

Tsawa made his Champions League debut for Belgian side Club Brugge against Aston Villa on Tuesday, coming on as a second-half substitute. His appearance places a player of Tibetan heritage among the elite competing in Europe’s premier club competition and represents a landmark moment for Tibetan football fans worldwide.

Born and raised in Switzerland, Tsawa is the son of Dorjee Tsawa, a former professional footballer for FC St. Gallen who is of Tibetan origin. Following in his father’s footsteps, Cheveyo began his football journey in the youth academies of FC St. Gallen 1879, FC Steinach and FC Zürich, steadily progressing through the ranks before earning a place in Zürich’s senior squad.

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https://phayul.com/tibetan-heritage-footballer-makes-champions-league-debut-for-club-brugge/

09/09/2026

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on September 8 called out China of "coercion, bullying, and aggression" after receiving a note from a Chinese military attaché during a mid-panel on security forum in Seoul.

Teodoro read out the note, which reiterated Beijing's rejection of the
2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling that found China's sweeping claims in the disputed waters had no legal basis. He questioned why the message had been handed to him while he was addressing the forum, calling the move disrespectful to international law, the event's organisers and South Korea, the host country.

"What kind of behaviour is this?" Teodoro said, arguing that disagreements should be addressed through civil and respectful engagement in international forums. He said China's conduct showed a disregard not only for the arbitration ruling but also for the basic diplomatic courtesy owed to the forum and its hosts.

Teodoro concluded by saying that "basic decency and behaviour" were what China needed to demonstrate in dealing with other countries.

08/09/2026

Tibetan heritage footballer Cheveyo Tsawa has made history by becoming the first player of Tibetan heritage to represent a club in the UEFA Champions League, marking a significant milestone for Tibetan representation on one of football’s biggest stages. Tsawa made his Champions League debut for Belgian side Club Brugge against Aston Villa on Tuesday, coming on as a second-half substitute. His appearance places a player of Tibetan heritage among the elite competing in Europe’s premier club competition and represents a landmark moment for Tibetan football fans worldwide.

Tsawa began his football journey in the youth academies of FC St. Gallen 1879, FC Steinach and FC Zürich, progressing through the ranks before earning a place in Zürich’s senior squad. During the 2025–26 season, he made 36 first-team appearances, scoring two goals and providing two assists. His consistent performances also earned him international recognition, with Tsawa representing Switzerland at several youth levels from the Under-16s through the Under-21s. He now continues his development at Club Brugge, one of Belgium’s most decorated clubs and a regular competitor in European football, known for its strong record of developing young talent and giving emerging players opportunities on the continental stage.

07/09/2026

Two Tibetans honoured with ‘Rangeland Restoration Awards’ for grassroots conservation and pastoralism

Two Tibetans, Trachung Palzang from Ngawa (Ch. Sichuan) and Hashu Karma Choshas from Yushu (Ch. Qinghai), have been honoured with the Rangeland Restoration Awards 2026 for their contributions to grassland restoration, pastoral livelihoods, ecological conservation, and the preservation of Tibetan nomadic culture.

The awards, organised under the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026, declared by the United Nations General Assembly, recognised 20 practitioners from 90 entries across 26 countries. The awards were jointly organised by the IYRP Global Alliance and the South Asia Regional Alliance, honouring individuals whose work contributes to the restoration, sustainable management and protection of rangelands, while strengthening the pastoral communities that depend on them.

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https://phayul.com/two-tibetans-honoured-with-rangeland-restoration-awards-for-grassroots-conservation-and-pastoralism/

07/09/2026

Flash floods and extensive debris flows struck Mount Amnye Machen in Machen County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Amdo (Ch. Qinghai), on the evening of August 5, damaging roads and bridges and burying large stretches of pastureland, following what a source in exile described as a glacier collapse on the mountain.

The source in exile who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons told Phayul that the glacier collapse triggered torrents of water, mud, and rock that swept through an uninhabited section of the mountain. No human or livestock casualties have been reported, but the debris flow has covered substantial areas of surrounding pasture under thick layers of mud and debris.

The source said the scale of the flooding and debris flow has significantly altered parts of the landscape and warned that unstable terrain could continue to pose risks to pilgrims travelling along the mountain’s traditional circumambulation route.

Chinese authorities, however, attributed the damage to heavy rainfall and mudslides. An official notice dated August 25 stated that rural roads and bridges had been damaged and warned of geological hazards and risks to traffic safety. Authorities subsequently prohibited vehicles and pedestrians from entering the affected areas, citing the need to safeguard lives and property. The notice did not mention a glacier collapse.

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Phayul.com is one of the most popular & successful Tibetan news website in English. With daily readers touching over 12,500 and still growing. It features news and views on Tibet.

04/09/2026

The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama returned to Dharamshala on Friday after spending more than two months in Leh, Ladakh, bringing to a close an extended summer sojourn marked by religious teachings, public audiences, and engagements with people from across the Himalayan region.

The nonagenarian leader was warmly welcomed by thousands of Tibetans and local Indian residents who lined the streets of Dharamshala as his convoy made its way to his residence.

The spiritual leader had been in Ladakh from June 28 to September 4, following medical treatment for his left knee in Delhi. His annual summer visits to Ladakh have become a longstanding practice, allowing him to escape Dharamshala’s intense monsoon season while continuing his religious and public engagements in the Himalayan region.

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Phayul.com is one of the most popular & successful Tibetan news website in English. With daily readers touching over 12,500 and still growing. It features news and views on Tibet.

04/09/2026

Chinese authorities have imposed stringent restrictions on movement into flood-hit Kyirong region in occupied Tibet, preventing Tibetans from other parts of the region from travelling to the disaster zone to provide relief and express solidarity with affected communities, according to an exile-based source who spoke to Phayul on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.

The source said the Chinese government has adopted an unusually restrictive approach to relief efforts in Kyirong, where severe flooding has affected areas along the Tibet-Nepal border. “Many Tibetans want to travel to Kyirong to help the affected people, but they are not being allowed to enter the area,” the source told Phayul, adding that the restrictions appear particularly stringent given the region’s proximity to Nepal.

According to a government notice issued following the floods, entry into the affected border area is restricted to officially designated relief personnel. Civilians and personal vehicles are prohibited from entering the disaster zone, while travel from Saga, Tingri and Nyalam Counties into Kyirong has been explicitly barred for civilians. Authorities have warned that those who violate the restrictions could face severe legal consequences.

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Phayul.com is one of the most popular & successful Tibetan news website in English. With daily readers touching over 12,500 and still growing. It features news and views on Tibet.