May 18, 2025 : U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), top members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a strong bipartisan statement on the 30th anniversary of the abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP.
The Panchen Lama holds immense spiritual significance in Tibetan Buddhism, second only to the Dalai Lama, and is seen as a symbol of the Tibetan people’s enduring struggle for religious freedom.
“Beijing’s abduction of the Panchen Lama was an affront to the Tibetan people and their pursuit of religious freedom,” the senators said in their joint statement. “For decades, China has denied Tibetans the right to self-determination and refused to engage in direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives.”
The senators condemned China’s ongoing efforts to erase Tibetan identity through suppression of its religion, culture, and language. They urged Beijing to immediately release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and provide credible proof of his well-being.
Background
On May 17, 1995, just three days after the Dalai Lama recognized six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama, Chinese authorities kidnapped him and his family. They have not been seen since. In his place, Beijing appointed another child, widely seen as an effort to assert control over Tibetan Buddhism.
The United States has consistently criticized China’s handling of the Tibet issue, emphasizing support for Tibetans’ right to self-governance and the preservation of their religious traditions.
“The U.S. will continue to steadfastly support Tibetans’ rights to have a say in their future, preserve their culture, and maintain their religious freedom,” the senators added.
Broader Context
Tensions between Tibet and China stem from China’s forcible annexation of the region in 1951 and its ongoing crackdown on Tibetan autonomy and identity. While Tibet once operated as a sovereign entity, the Chinese government now treats it as an integral part of its territory, tightly controlling its political and religious institutions.
The abduction of the Panchen Lama remains one of the longest-standing unresolved cases of enforced disappearance, and human rights organizations continue to call for his release and greater global pressure on Beijing.