PRC Mining in Tibet – a European Perspective
Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy
Given the enormous geostrategic and environmental importance of the Tibetan Plateau, what the People’s Republic of China (PRC) does with Tibet’s waters and its minerals does not concern the PRC only. It concerns the entire Himalayan region and their people, their security, and ecological interests. Beyond the region, China’s role in the global race for critical raw materials (CRM) cannot be overstated. It is already leading in the race and needs Tibet’s rich resources to keep its lead. Going forward, Beijing is likely to expand mining activities on the Plateau, displacing and disempowering Tibetans, with far-reaching regional and global implications. In contrast with the PRC, the European Union (EU) is just catching up in the CRM race. Due to its internal fragmentation, the EU has failed to raise its concerns regarding PRC policies in Tibet, including its violations of human rights standards. To understand the implications of PRC mining operations, it is important to assess these through the lens of China’s role in the race for CRM. It is also imperative to address China’s narrative-shaping efforts concerning Tibet and its mining activities versus the reality on the ground.
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