Latest news with #CTA
Canada News.Net
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
At 50-year diplomatic milestone, EU slams China's repression in Tibet, cites Dalai Lama succession interference
Brussels [Belgium], July 25 (ANI): At the 25th EU-China Summit held in Beijing on July 24, 2025, the European Union raised strong concerns regarding the worsening human rights situation in Tibet, marking yet another clear signal that Tibet remains a key point of contention in EU-China relations, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) reported. The summit, which also commemorated 50 years of EU-China diplomatic ties, brought together top-level leaders, including European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite a focus on a range of bilateral and global issues, the EU ensured that Tibet remained firmly on the agenda, citing systemic rights abuses and interference in religious freedoms. According to the CTA, the EU referenced its June 2025 Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels, where it had already expressed concerns about China's actions in Tibet, particularly the CCP's interference in the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The EU underscored that this spiritual process must be determined solely by Tibetan Buddhist traditions, free from political manipulation. In the July 24 summit, the EU also highlighted the repression of Tibetan human rights defenders and the widespread curtailment of freedoms of expression, religion, and movement across Tibet. Specific individual cases involving detained or disappeared Tibetan figures were also raised, reinforcing the EU's position that such violations must cease. The CTA reported that while the summit was framed by diplomatic gestures, the inclusion of Tibet once again illustrated the persistence of moral and political divides between Brussels and Beijing. Representative Rigzin Genkhang of the Office of Tibet in Brussels welcomed the attention, noting, 'This acknowledgement is important, but we must now push for concrete benchmarks to ensure accountability.' The CTA emphasised that the EU's continued engagement on Tibetan issues is a critical tool for amplifying Tibetan voices on the international stage, especially as China tightens its grip inside occupied Tibet. The organisation urged EU leaders to transform their statements into sustained policy action. (ANI)
Zawya
17 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Amlak Finance announces early, full settlement of outstanding financing facilities
DUBAI: Amlak Finance PJSC, today announced its early and full settlement with the financiers, a pivotal achievement that underscores its financial discipline and strategic foresight. Since the initial restructuring under the Common Terms Agreement (CTA) in 2014, Amlak has successfully settled AED10.2 billion with a total of 29 financiers. As of 24th July 2025, Amlak has fully settled its financial obligations, which were contractually scheduled to be settled by October 2026, by paying the balance amount of AED898 million to the six remaining financiers ahead of schedule, which is a key step towards the formal CTA exit. Over the past few years, the settlement of financial obligations has been one of the most significant challenges. The Board of Directors and leadership team have exerted exceptional efforts in this regard to actively engage with the financiers and settle the obligations. These dedicated efforts have been instrumental in achieving this key milestone. This achievement was further reinforced by a series of strategic steps, including the sale of some land assets, which aligned with the company's long-term vision and facilitated the early settlement with the financiers. Commenting on the early settlement, Arif Albastaki, CEO of Amlak Finance PJSC, said, 'The successful settlement ahead of time, marked by the early fulfilment of our financial obligations, signifies a pivotal moment for Amlak. This achievement not only underscores our commitment to a robust financial framework but also reflects our resolve to deliver on our promises and empowers us to embark on our transformative journey with renewed vigour.
Mid East Info
a day ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Amlak Finance announces early and full settlement of outstanding financing facilities - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai, United Arab Emirates,July 2025: Amlak Finance PJSC, today announced its early and full settlement with the financiers, a pivotal achievement that underscores its financial discipline and strategic foresight. Since the initial restructuring under the Common Terms Agreement (CTA) in 2014, Amlak has successfully settled AED 10.2 billion with a total of 29 financiers. As of 24 July 2025, Amlak has fully settled its financial obligations, which were contractually scheduled to be settled by October 2026, by paying the balance amount of AED 898 million to the six remaining financiers ahead of schedule, which is a key step towards the formal CTA exit. Over the past few years, the settlement of financial obligations has been one of the most significant challenges. The Board of Directors and leadership team have exerted exceptional efforts in this regard to actively engage with the financiers and settle the obligations. These dedicated efforts have been instrumental in achieving this key milestone. This achievement was further reinforced by a series of strategic steps, including the sale of some land assets, which aligned with the company's long-term vision and facilitated the early settlement with the financiers. Commenting on the early settlement, Arif Albastaki, CEO of Amlak Finance PJSC, said: 'The successful settlement ahead of time, marked by the early fulfilment of our financial obligations, signifies a pivotal moment for Amlak. This achievement not only underscores our commitment to a robust financial framework but also reflects our resolve to deliver on our promises and empowers us to embark on our transformative journey with renewed vigour.' 'We are following a strategic path that not only strengthens our financial position but also allows us to focus on high-growth opportunities. This represents a critical step forward as we transition into a more agile and focused organisation,' added Arif. With a renewed focus on innovation, efficiency, and financial stability Amlak remains committed to driving sustainable growth and creating long-term value for its shareholders and other stakeholders. This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new era for Amlak. Amlak Finance PJSC: Since its establishment in November 2000 as the region's pioneer financial services provider, Amlak Finance has provided its customers with innovative, Sharia-compliant property financing products and solutions designed to meet the rapidly evolving market demands.
The Diplomat
a day ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
India's Dalai Lama Reincarnation Dilemma
The strategic implications of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation have been well known for years, but the changing international context has complicated India's plans. The 14th Dalai Lama announced his reincarnation plans on July 2 – and, in doing so, confronted India with the prospect of a huge crisis in its relations with China after his passing. For India such a prospect is hardly new. What is new, however, is the international context. It is this context that is likely to make New Delhi's policy choices after the Dalai Lama's reincarnation more difficult. The Dalai Lama's reincarnation plans, presented in his July 2 statement, and their strategic implications have long been expected. Despite years of public musings that he might not choose reincarnation or identify an external emanation to succeed him, there was little doubt that the Dalai Lama will be reincarnated. All other options would have undermined both the institution of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan movement he leads. His public musings about alternative plans likely sought to disorient Beijing and pressure it to negotiate. The only surprises in the Dalai Lama's announcement were its mildness, compared to his 2011 statement, and the fact that it did not say that he will be reincarnated outside China. These surprises might be part of an effort to seek a negotiated agreement with Beijing but are unlikely to change the big picture. Two claimants are likely to emerge after the passing of the current Dalai Lama: one supported by Beijing in China's Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and one supported by the Tibetan movement and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala, India. This prospect presents New Delhi with a huge dilemma. If two Dalai Lamas emerge, the Indian government will have to recognize one of them, either officially or in practice. And India will have to choose the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala for moral, domestic, and strategic reasons. Not only is the Dalai Lama deeply revered inside India, with many Indians feeling that their country has a moral obligation to help both him and the Tibetan movement, but New Delhi likely recognizes that the Dalai Lama represents an important lever vis-à-vis China, India's so-called 'Tibet card.' However, supporting the Dalai Lama claimant in Dharamsala will be perceived by China as a direct challenge to Chinese sovereignty over Tibet. China's retaliation is likely to be severe and might involve provocations along the disputed border, increased support for separatists in India's unstable Northeast, or shifts in Beijing's position on the Kashmir dispute. Hence, the reincarnation dilemma for India is not which Dalai Lama to choose but how to support the one in Dharamsala without provoking a huge crisis in relations with China. Behind this dilemma lurk the bigger questions about the future of the CTA and Tibetan movement in India as well as the role of the Tibet issue in China-India relations. Fortunately, India has long prepared to confront the reincarnation dilemma. New Delhi has likely drawn plans or at least carefully considered how to handle the complex politics of the reincarnation, the possibility of mass instability in Tibet after the Dalai Lama's passing, and Beijing's policy responses to these and to India's positions. Unfortunately, the changing international context has complicated India's plans. There are four ways in which the international context of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation in recent years has shifted and, hence, made New Delhi's reincarnation dilemma more difficult. First, the rivalry between China and India has greatly intensified, raising the likelihood of conflict. While even in the best of times, the Dalai Lama's passing would have produced tensions, at present it might provoke a crisis that will deliver a heavy blow to the shaky foundations of the China-India relationship. In the worst-case scenario, it might even be the straw that will turn the two sides into full-blown adversaries. Second, the territorial dispute between China and India has escalated in recent years, particularly after the deadly Galwan clash of 2020. As there has long been an intimate connection between the Tibet issue and the territorial dispute, the reincarnation dilemma might easily scupper any chance for progress on the dispute or reignite military tensions. Importantly, as Beijing has historically used the territorial dispute to pressure India on Tibet-related issues, it is likely to do so again after the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. Third, the ongoing China-U.S. Cold War has reshaped the international environment. This environment has made Beijing more sensitive to external challenges, with the reincarnation likely to be one, and more willing to respond harshly to them. As the United States has consistently been a leading supporter of Dharamsala, the reincarnation might easily turn into a flashpoint in the China-U.S. Cold War, which would reduce New Delhi's ability to manage tensions around the reincarnation. The fallout of these tensions will affect India as Beijing retaliates against New Delhi, which it will suspect of colluding with Washington. Finally, the international position of the Dalai Lama and the CTA have weakened in recent years. Internationally support for them has declined under Chinese pressure, in tandem with the weakening of the Tibetan community on Indian soil, and the strengthening of Beijing's position in Tibet. Admittedly, this has slightly reduced Beijing's great sensitivity on the issue. But it also means that New Delhi will have to play a much bigger role in sustaining the CTA and establishing the Dharamsala Dalai Lama in the difficult times after the passing of the current one. This increased Indian role will antagonize China even further and invite its response. In sum, the Dalai Lama's reincarnation presents India with an old and very consequential dilemma, put in a new context which makes it harder. This does not mean that the reincarnation will certainly produce a huge crisis in China-India relations. After all, if the two sides communicate and manage the reincarnation carefully, tensions will remain within tolerable limits. Nevertheless, it means that New Delhi's reincarnation dilemma will be more acute and its policy responses to it will have to be more skillful. A version of this piece was previously published on the website of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore (NUS).
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Scholars condemn destruction of over 300 Buddhist stupas, sacred statues in Tibet
Scholars and experts on Tibetan affairs have strongly condemned the recent destruction of over 300 Buddhist stupas and sacred statues in Tibet, describing it as a direct assault on Indian cultural heritage. They have called for urgent intervention by the Indian government to address what they term as a systematic erasure of Tibetan—and by extension, Indian—cultural legacy under Chinese rule. Speaking to The Indian Express, Prof (Dr) Sashi Bala, noted Indologist and Buddhist scholar, said, 'The latest report on the destruction of over 300 Buddhist stupas reveals the ongoing situation in Tibet. After physically occupying Tibet, China is now engaged in a cultural invasion. It is not just an attack on Tibetan culture but also on Indian cultural heritage in Tibet that is being systematically erased.' She said that roots of Tibetan Buddhism lie deeply embedded in Indian traditions, and that the destruction of such symbols is tantamount to denying the Indian origin of Buddhism. 'China propagates the false narrative that Buddhism did not originate from India, using the argument that the Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is now in Nepal. But this overlooks the fact that the philosophical, scriptural, and monastic traditions of Buddhism evolved in India,' she said. 'Tibet and China were historically distinct. There was nothing Chinese in Tibet. Everything Tibet holds sacred—its culture, language, and religion—has Indian origins. Yet India has not responded as it should to these continuing cultural atrocities,' Bala said, adding that during her visits to Tibet, even international scholars were denied access to many revered religious and cultural sites. Echoing similar concerns, senior professor Vijay Kumar Singh from the Department of Chinese and Tibetan Languages at Panjab University, Chandigarh, said, 'What is happening in Tibet today is not surprising. China follows an expansionist mindset, common to all authoritarian regimes. It will never admit to destroying Tibetan culture, just as the British never admitted to the atrocities they committed in India.' He warned that China's rapid growth and dominance could eventually allow it to rewrite Tibetan history entirely from a Sinicized perspective. 'There may come a time when history books will reflect only the Chinese version of Tibet's past,' he said, urging the Indian government to condemn these actions at all appropriate diplomatic and international forums. According to a report released on Tuesday by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the demolition took place in May or June 2025 at Lungrab Zang-ri, near the Janggang Monastery. Chinese authorities reportedly razed hundreds of medium-sized Tibetan Buddhist stupas along with three larger ones. In what the CTA describes as a 'brazen act of cultural vandalism,' a newly constructed statue of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok—the late founder and abbot of the renowned Serthar Buddhist Institute—was also destroyed, along with a sacred statue of Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche ('Precious Master' in Tibetan), a revered figure in Vajrayana Buddhism. 'These acts have left the local Tibetan community deeply traumatised,' the report notes, adding that Chinese authorities have since sealed off the area and imposed strict surveillance, detaining anyone who attempts to share information about the incident. Locals reportedly face immediate arrest on charges of 'leaking state secrets.' The CTA report also states that Chinese officials have justified the destruction on the grounds that the stupas were built on 'government land' and allegedly violated undisclosed regulations. All debris from the demolition has reportedly been cleared, effectively erasing physical traces of the centuries-old symbols of faith.
