China building a fifth airport in Tibet

In recent years China has announced a string of huge infrastructure projects on the Tibetan Plateau including a railway linking Tibet to the main Chinese rail network; dams and mines, and a series of airports. These projects all fall within China’s Western Development Strategy which aims to cement Chinese control over Tibet. Mines and dams are intended to exploit Tibet’s vast mineral and water resources and the railway and airports are designed to facilitate the quickening of Han Chinese migration into Tibet. The projects create huge opportunities for the rapidly increasing numbers of Han Chinese migrants and stimulate further growth of the Tibetan economy.

But Tibetans are largely excluded from Tibet’s booming economy and the opportunities it creates. Jobs in the booming sectors of the economy go instead to Han Chinese migrants who are able to take advantage of their fluency in Mandarin and greater familiarity with Chinese business cultures.

Read more about the marginalisation of Tibetans in the booming urban economy: 

Read more about China’s “Western Development Strategy”:

Read The Times of India's report on China’s plans to build a fifth airport on the Tibetan Plateau:

For further information:

Matt Whitticase, External Communications

t +44 (0)20 7324 4605 / +44 (0)7515 788456 and email: matt@freetibet.org

Stephanie Brigden, Director

t +44 (0)20 7324 4605 / +44 (0)7530 528264 and email: stephanie@freetibet.org