Washington says foreign visitors face surveillance, intimidation and strict permit controls in Tibetan areas…reports Asian Lite News
The United States State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs has released its annual report to Congress under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018. The report states that the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) remains the only area in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) where foreign visitors—including diplomats, journalists, researchers, and tourists—face significant access restrictions. These restrictions require special permits in addition to Chinese visas, according to Tibetan Review (TR).
The report indicates that these restrictions are particularly severe for overseas Tibetans, especially Tibetan Americans, who face heightened scrutiny when attempting to visit their homeland. The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act enforces reciprocal restrictions on Chinese officials who deny access to Tibet and allows for sanctions against those responsible.
Throughout 2025, Chinese government regulations continued to impede travel to the TAR and Tibetan areas beyond it for US diplomats, officials, journalists, and tourists. International visitors were still required to obtain permits from the TAR government before entering the region. Reports suggest that Chinese security forces subjected foreign visitors in Tibetan areas to surveillance, harassment, and intimidation.
The TAR remains unique in China, as it is the only region where foreigners must formally request permission to visit. In 2025, US Embassy consular officials in Beijing conducted their first official visit to the TAR since 2019. This five-day visit included meetings with TAR officials, tour operators, hospitals, and cultural sites. However, the report emphasises that this single visit does not signify a full restoration of access.
Beijing’s travel regulations for Tibet differ from those in other provincial-level entities. Since 1989, foreign travellers have needed official confirmation letters, typically arranged through government-approved travel agencies that require designated guides. Access is often denied during politically sensitive periods, such as the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising and the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
The report also highlights that US citizens of Tibetan heritage face even stricter screening, often needing approval from the United Front Work Department, embassy interviews, and extensive personal documentation. Even after receiving permits, Tibetan Americans reportedly endure interrogations, surveillance, and pressure to install monitoring applications on their phones.
Journalists and human rights monitors experience some of the most significant restrictions. TR cites the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC), which reported that Chinese authorities rejected nearly all requests from US journalists to report from the TAR. Furthermore, 93 per cent of correspondents attempting to report from Tibetan regions encountered major obstacles. Even in areas outside the TAR, journalists faced surveillance, physical obstruction, and intimidation.
The report concludes that despite some limited consular improvements, China’s restrictions on Tibet continue to hinder transparency, independent reporting, and genuine international engagement with the region.
