China’s Ruthless Campaign of Cultural Erasure: Over 300 Tibetan Buddhist Stupas and Sacred Statues Destroyed in Karze

In a deeply disturbing escalation of its assault on Tibetan religious and cultural identity, Chinese authorities have razed more than 300 Buddhist stupas and sacred statues, including one of Guru Padmasambhava, in Drakgo (Chinese: Luhuo) County within the Karze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Tibet’s traditional Kham province. The demolitions, which occurred in late May or June 2025 near Lungrab Zang ri close to the Janggang Monastery, represent a brazen act of cultural vandalism that has caused profound trauma to the local Tibetan community.

According to a news report published on the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on 22 Jul 2025, Among the destroyed religious monuments were hundreds of medium-sized stupas and three larger stupas crucial to Tibetan Buddhism’s heritage. Additionally, statues of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok the late founder abbot of the Serthar Buddhist Institute, an influential figure in modern Tibetan Buddhism and Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the revered 8th-century master credited with introducing tantric Buddhism to Tibet, were completely demolished. The stone debris from these centuries old sacred structures has been systematically removed, erasing all physical traces of their existence in a chilling attempt at historical and spiritual erasure.

Following the destruction, Chinese authorities imposed an “iron curtain of silence” over the region. The area surrounding the demolition site has been fully sealed, blocking all entry and exit. Anyone locals or visitors found speaking about or sharing information on the devastation faces immediate detention under vague charges of “leaking state secrets”. This intense information blackout highlights a systematic pattern of suppressing witnesses and concealing evidence of cultural persecution.

According to the Tibetan Review, Chinese officials have cynically justified these actions by alleging that the stupas were built illegally on “government land” and violated undisclosed regulations. These claims serve as a superficial pretext to vindicate the state’s destruction and suppression of Tibetan religious symbols. This event is consistent with China’s broader strategy of aggressively “Sinicizing” Tibetan Buddhism enforcing political control over religious institutions and eradicating Tibetan cultural practices perceived as threats to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s authority.

Following Decree No. 22 issued by China’s National Religious Affairs Bureau on 01 December 2024, Chinese authorities have intensified their crackdown on Tibetan monasteries. This decree mandates that from 01 January 2025, all monasteries must operate under strict government control, enforced through Article 43 of the Monastery Management Regulations. The new rules severely restrict religious activities, impose stringent oversight on monastic affairs, and enable authorities to suppress Tibetan Buddhist practices, further tightening the Chinese Communist Party’s grip on Tibetan religious institutions.

The brutal suppression of religious freedom in Karze also coincided with Chinese authorities imposing bans on public gatherings to prevent Tibetans from celebrating the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in July 2025. Furthermore, restrictions extended to limiting the number of monks allowed to travel together in Tibet’s Amdo region during this period, exacerbating the control over Tibetan religious expression and social activities.

One symbolic victim of this intensified cultural repression is Khenpo Tenga of Janggang Monastery, who played a pivotal role in erecting the now destroyed stupas and statues at Lungrab Zang ri. He currently faces severe limitations on his movement and religious duties, exemplifying the CCP’s efforts to silence influential Tibetan Buddhist leaders.

Human rights organizations and Tibetan exile communities have rightly condemned these acts of cultural genocide. They characterize this phase of destruction as a deliberate assault designed “to forcibly align Tibetan religious practices with CCP’s political agenda, eradicating Tantric Buddhist traditions and Tibetan identity”. The intense secrecy surrounding the operation and the harsh reprisals against informants confirm that this is more than urban planning or land regulation it is state-sponsored ethnoreligious persecution.

The international community must urgently respond to this escalating crisis. Beyond expressions of condemnation, practical measures such as targeted sanctions against responsible Chinese officials, diplomatic pressure, and support for Tibetan cultural preservation efforts are imperative. Protecting Tibetan Buddhism’s sacred heritage, creators, and communities is essential to safeguarding the rich spiritual traditions and human rights of Tibetans under Chinese rule.