DHARAMSHALA: China has stationed around 400 military personnel at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Serthar County, eastern Tibet, as part of a broader strategy to tighten control over the region, the Central Tibetan Administration ( CTA ) said, citing reports from Tibet.
The introduction of the troops on December 20, 2024, is accompanied by plane security, signalling an increase of safety measures at the nation’s largest Tibetan Buddhist research institute, the CTA said.
Larung Gar, which was established in 1980, has long been a resource for Buddhist monks and nuns looking to advance their religious training. Yet, it has faced increasing limitations from the Chinese government, which sees the university as a center of Tibetan individuality and independence.
In earlier reprisals, especially in 2016-2017, thousands of religious residences were demolished, and many professionals were forcibly evicted. As a result, the people at Larung Gar has been reduced, from around 10, 000 to a significantly smaller amount.
According to the Central Tibetan Administration ( CTA ), reports have suggested that China plans to impose new laws at Larung Gar, including a 15-year maximum stay period.
Moreover, all monks and nuns may be required to register with the government, and the overall number of religious professionals is expected to become reduced. Foreign students are apparently being asked to leave, which hints at a broader effort to reduce the population of the academy.
The Taiwanese government continues to try to have more control over Tibetan Buddhist institutions through these methods. The new rules are a part of a wider effort to stifle religious liberty in Tibet, where conventional Buddhist customs have been put under increasing scrutiny.
The Larung Gar Academy, after a pillar of Tibetan Buddhist fellowship, is presently facing heightened state security and limitations, reflecting the broader pattern of diminishing spiritual freedom in the region.
The growing military presence and strict laws in Larung Gar reflect China’s continued attempts to impose Tibetan Buddhism and impose restrictions on religious freedoms in Tibet. These actions are a part of a larger plan to lessen Tibetan social and religious independence and strengthen state control over the region’s religious institutions.
