The Hague, Netherlands: Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) arrived in the Netherlands on the morning of 3 November, where he was warmly received at Schiphol Airport by Representative Rigzin Genkhang, accompanied by EU Advocacy Officer Tenzin Phuntsok, and members of the Tibetan community.
During his visit, Sikyong is scheduled to address the 6th Annual Summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and hold a series of meetings with Dutch government officials, members of the Dutch Parliament and engage with international and Dutch media.
Kicking off his visit, Sikyong conducted back-to-back interviews, sitting down first with the Chief Correspondent of The Associated Press (AP), followed immediately by La Libre Belgique.
During which they discussed a wide range of pressing issues concerning Tibet , but the core focus remained on the key message Sikyong intends to deliver to lawmakers from around the world attending the IPAC Summit.
During both interviews, Sikyong underscored the importance of framing Tibet’s historical status through credible and legally grounded perspectives. In this context, he referred to two significant publications: Professor Hon-Shiang Lau’s Tibet Was Never Part of China Since Antiquity, which examines China’s historical records concerning Tibet’s status, and Professor Michael van Walt van Praag’s Tibet Brief 20/20, which presents an analysis of Tibet’s status under international law. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that the international community has access to well-documented historical evidence and legal perspectives when examining Tibet.
Sikyong’s engagement in the Netherlands will continue over the next few days. Marking his first visit to the country since being re-elected, Sikyong arrived at a critical time for Tibet, offering a vital opportunity to bring renewed international scrutiny to the situation inside Tibet, and to galvanise support.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels
