Brussels — Rigzin Genkhang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet, highlighted the Chinese government's erasure of Tibetan identity, evidence of persecution of Tibetans, and the self-immolations of Tibetans who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Tibet and call for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), which brings together 60 legislators from more than 29 countries.
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) held its 5th Annual Summit at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 7-8, 2025, bringing together more than 60 legislators from over 29 countries on six continents. IPAC is the global gathering of cross-party lawmakers that seek to find shared responses to the multiple challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China, and coordinate on concrete legislative campaigns in their respective parliaments.
The summit of IPAC commenced with speeches by Miriam Lexmann and Bernard Guetta, members of the European Parliament, co-organisers of the summit, and co-chairs of IPAC. In their opening remarks, they emphasized the urgency of concerted international action to combat human rights violations, coercive diplomacy, and the suppression of democratic values by the Chinese Communist Party.
Rigzin Genkhang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet, addressed the assembly on the following topics: “Erasing Identity: Contemporary Evidence of the Persecution of Tibetans,” with subheadings such as “Tibet: the Crisis the World Cannot Ignore,” “Gedun Choekyima, 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet,” and “Self-immolation: The Ultimate Sacrifice.”
In her 30-minute speech, Representative Genkhang presented a comprehensive overview of the persistent and ongoing human rights violations by the People's Republic of China and its systematic attempts to undermine and erase Tibetan identity and culture. She also highlighted the geostrategic and environmental importance of the Tibetan Plateau, emphasizing its significance not only for the region but also for South and Southeast Asia.
The representative also spoke about the Chinese government repeated attempts to interfere in the centuries-old Tibetan reincarnation process, including the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, which constitutes a direct violation of religious freedom and the right of peoples to spiritual self-determination.
She also noted US legislative initiatives such as the Tibet Policy and Support Act (TPSA) of 2020 and the Tibet Resolution Act of 2024, which are important steps taken by democratic governments to counter the CCP's calculated strategy of exploiting faith for political control. Representative Genkhang urged lawmakers to initiate similar legislation reflecting the principles of the TPSA and the Tibet Resolution Act in their respective parliaments to strengthen global solidarity with Tibet.
The summit also featured a keynote address by Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, who emphasized the importance of democratic unity in defending freedom and a rules-based international order.
According to report of Office of Tibet, Brussels, on the closing day, the participating lawmakers resolved to initiate legislation in their respective Parliaments based on their deliberation, notably among other things, prohibiting China from interfering in the selection of the next Tibetan spiritual leader, the successor of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The IPAC 2025 summit in Brussels concluded with a renewed call for solidarity among democratic nations to combat authoritarian influence and defend the universal values of freedom, human dignity, and self-determination.
