Washington DC: Continuing with his official engagements in the United States, Sikyong Penpa Tsering visited the Tibetan Sunday School at the Vienna Community Center on 4 May 2025, where he emphasised the Tibetan youth on critical need for maintaining unique Tibetan identity. Later that day, Sikyong addressed members of the Tibetan communities from Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia at the Capital Area Tibetan Association (CATA) community hall on other key issues concerning seeking resolution to Tibet-China conflict and sustenance of Central Tibetan Administration.
During his interaction with youth at the Vienna Community Center, Sikyong offered a clear and succinct explanation of the Tibetan Plateau’s significance—beginning with its formation through the collision of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, and extending to its crucial role in contemporary geopolitical and strategic affairs.
Sikyong went on to brief the young attendees about the ongoing Tibet-China conflict, emphasising how the Middle Way Approach offers the most suitable path toward a mutually beneficial political solution. However, Sikyong underscored, “Of the two key components of this policy, it is vital that we bolster our efforts to assert Tibet’s historical independence as a foundation for our political legitimacy.” To support this understanding, he encouraged the audience to study the works of Professor Michael van Walt van Praag and renowned China scholar Professor Lau Han Shiang for deeper insights into Tibet’s historical and legal context.
In conclusion, Sikyong urged the younger generation of Tibetans to intensify their efforts in preserving the unique Tibetan identity amid growing threats to the survival of Tibetan culture, both within Tibet and across the diaspora.
Thereafter, Sikyong convened a meeting at the CATA community hall to engage with members of the Tibetan community. Sikyong began by providing an update on his ongoing official engagements in Washington, D.C.
Sikyong shared that, “Despite the uncertainty surrounding the restoration of support that was suspended following the termination of USAID programs globally, our Kashag is making every effort to revive some of these forms of assistance. Our efforts are also directed toward exploring all possible avenues to reinstate services such as VOA and RFA, which are essential in keeping our fellow Tibetans informed on important issues that are otherwise inaccessible within Tibet.”
Sikyong further revealed that numerous members of Congress, both men and women, had expressed their support for this initiative and offered valuable advice. He also noted that discussions with these lawmakers included updates on the current dire situation in Tibet, as well as the unintended consequences of the suspension of support, which has inadvertently strengthened the People’s Republic of China’s ongoing efforts to systematically assimilate Tibetan culture and religion. “On this matter,” Sikyong remarked, “many legislators conveyed their concerns and reassured us of their continued support.”
Nevertheless, Sikyong acknowledged, “While the suspension of these supports represents a significant chunk of our budget, it does not mean that we are entirely depleted of funds, as the majority of our regular budgets remain intact. However, we will persist in our efforts to restore these resources, as their reinstatement would significantly expedite our endeavours to preserve and promote our cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage.”
To ensure the continued survival of Tibetan identity, Sikyong also briefed the community on the key achievements of the 16th Kashag in advancing these efforts within the exile community, citing the Tibet Town Project in Minnesota as a notable example.
