Translated By TenGyal
Reported By Palden
Edited By Pema Tso
Jangchub, a former governor and Qi Jianxin, a former deputy governor from Dechen(Deqing) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunan, have been expelled from the Chinese Communist fraternity on allegations of “ being disloyal to and defying the Chinese Communist Party.”
Under the “Killing Tigers, Swatting Bees Policy,” the Chinese government has been conducting inspections and imposing prison sentences, specifically targeting officials from ethnic minorities and those whose views diverge from the Communist Party’s policies.
On February 24th, Chinese authorities announced the expulsion of two former regional officials from the Chinese Communist Party. Jangcub, a Tibetan and former governor, and Qi Jianxin, a former deputy governor of Dechen County in the Dechen(Deqing) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, were dismissed on accusations of “seeking illegal benefits, lacking ideological faith, undermining the ideals of the Chinese Communist system, and seriously compromising the legal framework.”
In recent years, the Chinese government has arrested and sentenced numerous leaders and officials from the Tibetan regions. In light of these developments, Tibet Times reporter spoke with Mr. Dawa Tsering, director of the Dharamshala-based Tibetan Policy Institute, to explore the underlying reasons behind these actions. He said, “Chinese officials are expelled from the party and imprisoned for allegations of corruption due to factional power struggles. However, Tibetan officials are evaluated based on their loyalty to the Chinese government and their opposition to so-called separatism rather than being involved in power struggles like their Chinese counterparts. In particular, during the eras of Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, Tibetan officials were allowed to engage in corruption without facing any consequences. They were strategically used to denounce His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and the so-called Dalai separatist clique. For example, during the Cultural Revolution, under Deng Xiaoping’s directives, corrupt or dissenting Chinese officials were swiftly eliminated, while Tibetan officials were deliberately retained and utilised. Under the Chinese government’s policy of “Tibetans controlling Tibetans,” the primary concern was not whether these officials were guilty of crimes or corruption, but rather whether they remained loyal and obedient to Beijing.”
He also stated, “Since Xi Jinping took power, he has continued the policy of using Tibetans to control Tibetans, but now he enforces it with greater force. Many Tibetan officials who oppose Xi Jinping’s harsh policies or fail to navigate the system cleverly are accused of corruption and other crimes and then expelled from the Communist Party and imprisoned. While the core policies of Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping remain the same, in the past, criminals were acquitted of charges and imprisonment to ensure Tibetan officials complied with the Chinese government. Now, compliance is enforced through fear and coercion. I think the nature of the policy hasn’t changed—only its form.”
Early last year, the Chinese government launched an initial investigation into former governor Jangchub and former deputy governor Qi Jianxin, alleging that they had “engaged in corruption, caused serious damages and spread negative influence.”
Reports indicate that former governor Jangchub was dismissed from his position on May 19th 2024, while Qi Jianxin was removed from office on April 9th,2024. Since the beginning of 2024, the Chinese government has been investigating several officials on charges of corruption and violating regulations. These include Kalsang Namgyal, head of the United Front Work Department of the Dechen(Deqing) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture; Tashi Dhondup, former deputy governor of Dechen (Deqing) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Feng Yuxiang, a member of the Standing Committee of Dechen (Deqing) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
Over the past two years, more than 20 high-ranking officials in Tibetan regions have faced investigations and subsequent dismissal. On February 12, the Chinese government accused Sherab Gyatso, the deputy secretary of the Communist Party in Yushu Prefecture, of being disloyal to the nation and violating party principles. Earlier this year, on January 23, Che Dralha, who leads the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region government, was also expelled. This followed the dismissal of Wu Yingjie, the former secretary of the Communist Party of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on December 11 of last year. Both were accused of losing faith in the party and straying from its core ideals and principles.
