Dalai Lama’s enduring moral voiceBy Khedroob ThondupNo state has ever formally recognized the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as a legal entity. In Tibet’s case, China’s consolidation of control and its permanent seat on the UN Security Council foreclose that possibility. States therefore avoid recognition not because the CTA lacks legitimacy, but because the costs of defying Beijing are prohibitive. The Dalai Lama, by contrast, wields soft power that no decree from Beijing can extinguish. His moral authority ensures Tibet remains present in the global consciousness, even as its political institutions are denied a seat at the table.

Source: Taipei Times April 01, 2026 16:13 UTC