Tibetans in exile are being tracked, intimidated, and silenced by the Chinese Communist Party – even thousands of miles away from the repression they escaped.
They receive threatening phone calls in Mandarin and unknown men photograph them in the street. The message the CCP sends is clear: Stop speaking out – or your family will pay.
This is China’s attempt to silence Tibet forever.
Tibet will be forgotten without sacrifice. I must continue regardless of the consequences.– Sonam, now living in Germany
A recent UK Parliamentary report on transnational repression confirms that China is one of the top three most aggressive perpetrators of foreign intimidation on British soil. The Chinese government carries out more acts of transnational repression than any other regime on Earth. Yet, China is still not listed under the UK’s “highest-risk” category for foreign interference.
Even here in the UK, there are reports of the CCP using:
In 2021, I received a video call from one of my siblings in Tibet. When I picked up the call, I found out that they were calling from the local police station. The police officers urged me to behave well abroad, and to refrain from engaging in activities that could go against Chinese policies... If I failed to obey, the officers said my relatives would suffer consequences.– Dhonden, now living in Switzerland
The CCP has been allowed to continue these activities for too long without sanction or justice.
At times it can even feel as though governments actively enable this transnational repression. On 20 January 2026, the UK government confirmed that planning permission for a new Chinese mega-embassy would be granted. This site, which will be the largest Chinese embassy in Europe, saw widespread objections from activists and diaspora communities over fears that it will be used as a base to provide even broader cover for CCP influence, intimidation, and information gathering.
China deliberately exploits family bonds.
When a Tibetan speaks out from exile, there is a constant threat that relatives back home in Tibet may be detained, interrogated, or threatened.
“Although I am still able to contact my family in Tibet, we must choose our words wisely and self-censor.”
Yeshi, now living in India
The result is silence. Families are torn apart as Tibetan parents tell their children not to call, and communities shrink in fear as phones, emails, and social media are closely surveilled. All the while exiled Tibetans are left anxious, exhausted, and sleepless.
“I have not been able to contact my family for the past 6 or 7 years. I never hear from my family directly; I rely on other people to get updates.”
Gedhun, now living in Belgium
This pincer strategy – threats at home and surveillance abroad – ruptures the Tibetan community. It restricts escape options, blocks circulation of information, and weakens solidarity networks. The silencing of free speech now follows Tibetans to London, Toronto, and Delhi, casting a long shadow of censorship.
“In my hometown, denouncing someone to the Chinese authorities for maintaining contact with outsiders is rewarded with a cash prise worth about 100,000 Yuan [£10,700].”
Dradul, now living in India
Fear is erasing Tibetan culture – not through force alone, but through intimidation and isolation. And the pace is accelerating.
China is counting on our silence.
The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday in 2025 and the mega-embassy decision in January 2026 have brought renewed attention to China and its transnational repression. While China may hope that this attention fades quickly, we need to make sure that it does not.
China is counting on our silence, but they have underestimated the courage of Tibetans – and the compassion of Tibet supporters.
Throughout 2026, our aim is to keep Tibet in the headlines through engaging storytelling – cutting through China’s disinformation and putting all eyes on Tibet.
Tibetan voices are key in telling the world about what is happening in Tibet and the transnational repression faced by Tibetans in exile, and so we are going to amplify those voices.
Alongside our research partner Tibet Watch, we will be producing innovative reports and briefings to inform the world and put pressure on policymakers to take action. We are going to spend the year ahead gathering testimonies, producing advocacy tools, and ensuring that Tibetan voices are heard.
