A diplomatic storm has erupted between Prague and Beijing after Czech President Petr Pavel met the Dalai Lama during a recent visit to India on July 27, 2025. The Chinese government has issued an aggressive rebuke, accusing Pavel of “violating the One-China principle” and fuelling Tibetan separatism. The Chinese embassy in Prague publicly demanded that the Czech Republic cease all official contact with the Tibetan spiritual leader. It warned that further engagements could “seriously damage” bilateral relations. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama not just a religious figure, but a political threat to its sovereignty. Pavel’s office swiftly clarified that the meeting was personal and not part of any official delegation or agenda. It added that the visit was meant to convey birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama, who recently turned 90. However, the explanation failed to assuage Chinese sensitivities. China’s anger stems from its rigid enforcement of the One-China policy, which encompasses Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Any engagement with Tibetan leaders abroad—particularly by sitting presidents—is viewed by Beijing as a direct affront to its territorial claims. How China's Wolf Warrior Diplomacy Targets Diaspora, Activists, and Foreign Leaders Supporting Tibet In recent years, tensions between the Czech Republic and China have simmered. Prague’s support for Taiwan, its criticism of Chinese cyber espionage, and now, its symbolic connection with the Dalai Lama, have added to a growing list of grievances in Beijing’s eyes. Beijing’s global response to Tibetan activism has been anything but restrained. Chinese embassies routinely launch diplomatic protests and orchestrate pro-China rallies when foreign dignitaries meet the Dalai Lama. Economic threats—ranging from trade limitations to tourist blackouts—are also part of the toolkit. The strategy is clear: isolate the Dalai Lama internationally and render the Tibetan movement invisible. Several countries have buckled under Chinese pressure in the past, cancelling meetings or reducing them to private, closed-door affairs. But Pavel’s gesture is a departure from that trend. China also extends its clampdown beyond diplomacy. Tibetan diaspora members face online censorship, visa denials, and alleged surveillance by Chinese agents abroad. Prominent monks and activists have been banned from international forums and religious events hosted in countries friendly to China. Back home in Tibet, repression is even more systematic. China controls the appointment of senior religious figures and has signalled its intent to decide the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama. Religious gatherings are heavily monitored. Speaking out against Chinese rule invites punishment. UN Slams Boarding Schools Policy; Up to 1 Million Tibetan Children Separated from Families The United Nations has condemned Beijing for separating Tibetan children from their families and placing them in state-run boarding schools. Human rights groups argue this is part of a wider policy to Sinicise Tibetan identity and language under the guise of modernisation. China has also pressured tech platforms to suppress content related to Tibet. On mainstream social media, Tibetan voices are often shadow-banned, flagged as “sensitive,” or removed altogether. Beijing’s reach, both physical and digital, has grown increasingly expansive. President Pavel’s meeting—though framed as personal—reignites debate on the West’s reluctance or willingness to engage the Dalai Lama. While many world leaders shy away due to Chinese pressure, a few, like Pavel, still choose symbolic solidarity with the Tibetan cause. Despite Chinese objections, support for Tibet hasn’t vanished. The United States regularly hosts the Dalai Lama and funds programmes to preserve Tibetan language and culture. Canada and several European parliaments have passed resolutions condemning China’s human rights abuses in Tibet. President Pavel’s gesture may have been symbolic, but Beijing’s furious reaction underscores how hypersensitive China remains on the issue.