Chinese sensitivity and the Dalai LamaBy Dolma TseringThe Dalai Lama on Feb. 1 made history by winning his first Grammy Award for his spoken word album Meditations. The footage was framed to imply inappropriate conduct by the Dalai Lama, despite Tibetan representatives saying the clip was taken out of context. China’s targeting of the Dalai Lama highlights how modern authoritarian regimes confront symbolic threats that cannot be neutralized through conventional coercive tools. The Dalai Lama presents Beijing with a particularly acute challenge. The Chinese government’s use of sexual insinuation and reputational manipulation against the Dalai Lama reflects a broader authoritarian playbook.

Source: Taipei Times February 23, 2026 18:24 UTC