The Fifth Annual Summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), held on November 10, 2025, at the European Parliament in Brussels, gathered over 60 lawmakers from more than 29 countries and six continents. The Summit focused on coordinating legislative responses to the challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), addressing pressing human rights, environmental, and geopolitical issues. Among the highlighted speakers was Representative Rigzin Genkhang of the Office of Tibet in Brussels, who underscored Tibet’s multifaceted crisis under PRC’s control.
The Growing Importance of IPAC and Tibet’s Role in Global Advocacy
IPAC has evolved into a significant international coalition comprising 41 parliaments that work collectively to defend democratic values and address China’s coercive tactics. The Summit provided an important platform for lawmakers, crossing party lines and geographical boundaries, to consolidate a united front against authoritarian policies, particularly those targeting Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other marginalized regions.
The representation of Tibet at the Summit served as a pivotal moment to highlight its critical issues not only as a political and human rights matter but as an environmental concern with global implications. The advocacy presented conveyed that Tibet’s struggle for freedom intertwines fundamentally with the world’s democratic and ecological interests. The ongoing repression of Tibetans, including suppression of religious freedoms and cultural identity, remains a central focus in global human rights spheres.
Tibet’s Human Rights Challenges Under PRC Rule
The discourse at the Summit revealed Tibet’s continuous human rights violations, emphasizing the political and cultural suppression imposed by the PRC since its forceful invasion in the 1950s. The Tibetan representatives emphasized the systematic nature of religious repression, the erosion of Tibetan language and culture, and the forced assimilation policies, including colonial-style boarding schools designed to dismantle Tibetan identity.
Many lawmakers underscored that Tibet’s plight should not be seen as an isolated issue but as part of widespread authoritarian crackdowns that undermine democratic norms globally. There is a push within IPAC to integrate Tibet’s human rights situation into the broader framework of China’s global influence and violations. This approach reflects an understanding that solidarity with Tibet contributes to strengthening democratic resilience worldwide.
Tibet’s Critical Environmental Role
Adding a crucial dimension to the Summit’s agenda was the emphasis on Tibet’s pivotal ecological importance. The Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Third Pole,” harbors the world’s largest reserve of freshwater outside the polar regions and is the source of Asia’s major rivers. The Summit highlighted that Tibet’s glaciers and fragile ecosystems face severe threats from PRC policies and climate change.
The environmental discussions conveyed that Tibet’s ecological degradation is not merely regional but has far-reaching implications for millions relying on the Asian river basins. Advocates urged that Tibet’s environmental issues be explicitly included in international climate change discussions, particularly the upcoming COP30 Summit in Brazil, to ensure global environmental security and justice.
Strengthening Global Legislative Solidarity
IPAC’s expanding membership, exemplified by the participation of lawmakers from across continents, symbolizes mounting global parliamentary solidarity against coercive state practices. Lawmakers stressed the necessity of cross-party and cross-national cooperation to uphold human rights, the rule of law, and democratic freedoms.
The convergence of lawmakers echoed the importance of coordinated legislative action in supporting Tibetans and other oppressed groups. This extends from calling on the PRC to engage in meaningful dialogues with Tibetan representatives without preconditions, to sanctioning measures that hold violators of international human rights accountable.
The collaborative spirit emerging from IPAC reflects a shared commitment to resist the authoritarian agendas that Tibet and others face, promoting peaceful resolution and respect for sovereignty
