Padma Choling
Encyclopedia
Padma Choling is the eighth and current Chairman of the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region
(TAR) in China
. He took this position in 2010 from the vice-chairmanship that he had since 2003, since given to Lobsang Gyaltsen. He also heads the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress. As such, Choling is the "most senior ethnic Tibetan
in the regional government", and most senior official in the TAR in general, though he remains subordinate to the TAR Communist Party
secretary, Zhang Qingli
.
in Dengqen County
, Qamdo Prefecture
. He joined the People's Liberation Army
in Qinghai Province at 17, serving in the army for seventeen years. There, he played basketball and mastered the Chinese language
. He joined the Communist Party of China
in October 1970. He was an official in the Tibetan regional government since December 1969, working in Xigaze
and then Lhasa
, rising to the vice-chairmanship of the TAR in 2003. After his anodyne handling of an earthquake in Damxung County
outside Lhasa, he was elected the chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 2010.
. In addition to stability and ethnic harmony, he has set a goal of 12 percent GDP
growth and a ¥
4,000 per capita GDP for farmers and herders in the Tibet Autonomous Region. To bring this about, he has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Commerce
of the Central Government to allow it to promote trade with South Asia
, including Nepal
. Padma is of the opinion that there is no "issue of Tibet" that the Dalai Lama says, and questions the Lama's ability to judge the situation in Tibet since he has not been in Tibet since 1959.
On the issue of religion, Padma has said that he and the Karmapa
, Ogyen Trinley Dorje are "mates from the same hometown". At the 2010 National People's Congress
, he announced that the choosing of the 15th Dalai Lama would abide by the "requirements of Tibetan Buddhist
tradition", including approval by the government
, instead of being the choice of the 14th Dalai Lama. Already, he has dismissed the Dalai Lama's choice for the 11th Panchen Lama
as "invalid". He has included monks and nuns over the age of 60 into the Chinese state social security
, and works with legislation delivering roads, electricity, and water to monasteries
.
Moreover, Pema Thinley, said at a Press Conference that Gedun Choki Nyima
- the child recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama
- is an ordinary person, and that he and his parents wanted to stay away from public attention for their own safety.
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
(TAR) in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. He took this position in 2010 from the vice-chairmanship that he had since 2003, since given to Lobsang Gyaltsen. He also heads the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress. As such, Choling is the "most senior ethnic Tibetan
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
in the regional government", and most senior official in the TAR in general, though he remains subordinate to the TAR Communist Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
secretary, Zhang Qingli
Zhang Qingli
Zhang Qingli was the Secretary of the Communist Party of China Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee. He is also a member of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Known for his tough policies in ethnic regions, Zhang has dismissed ethnic officials whom he considers unreliable...
.
Biography
Padma Choling was born in 1952 in a serf familySerfdom in Tibet controversy
The serfdom in Tibet controversy rests on both a political and an academic debate. In the political debate, Chinese sources claim moral authority for governing Tibet, based on narratives that portray Tibet as a "feudal serfdom" and a "hell on earth" prior to the invasion of Tibet in 1950...
in Dengqen County
Dêngqên County
Dêngqên County, is a county of the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region,-Transport:*China National Highway 317...
, Qamdo Prefecture
Qamdo Prefecture
Qamdo Prefecture is a subnational entity in the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, containing the town of Qamdo...
. He joined the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
in Qinghai Province at 17, serving in the army for seventeen years. There, he played basketball and mastered the Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
. He joined the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in October 1970. He was an official in the Tibetan regional government since December 1969, working in Xigaze
Xigazê Prefecture
Xigazê is a prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region in China.The administrative center of the prefecture is the city of Shigatse ....
and then Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, rising to the vice-chairmanship of the TAR in 2003. After his anodyne handling of an earthquake in Damxung County
Damxung County
Damxung is a county far north of the main centre of Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Its administrative seat is Damquka.Damxung means "selected pasture" in Tibetan language.-Geography:...
outside Lhasa, he was elected the chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 2010.
Chairmanship
Personally, he has been described as "stern, but... amiable" in contrast to his "soft-spoken" predecessor Qiangba PuncogQiangba Puncog
Qiangba Puncog was the Chairman of the government of Tibet Autonomous Region of China from 2003 until January 2010. He is of the Tibetan ethnicity. He was most visible in public during the 2008 Tibetan unrest, receiving diplomats and journalists...
. In addition to stability and ethnic harmony, he has set a goal of 12 percent GDP
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
growth and a ¥
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
4,000 per capita GDP for farmers and herders in the Tibet Autonomous Region. To bring this about, he has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Commerce
Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China , formerly Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation is an executive agency of the State Council of China...
of the Central Government to allow it to promote trade with South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, including Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Padma is of the opinion that there is no "issue of Tibet" that the Dalai Lama says, and questions the Lama's ability to judge the situation in Tibet since he has not been in Tibet since 1959.
On the issue of religion, Padma has said that he and the Karmapa
Karmapa
The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa , itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism....
, Ogyen Trinley Dorje are "mates from the same hometown". At the 2010 National People's Congress
2010 National People's Congress
The 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th National People's Congress held its annual meeting in March 2010 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China...
, he announced that the choosing of the 15th Dalai Lama would abide by the "requirements of Tibetan Buddhist
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
tradition", including approval by the government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
, instead of being the choice of the 14th Dalai Lama. Already, he has dismissed the Dalai Lama's choice for the 11th Panchen Lama
11th Panchen Lama
The 11th Panchen Lama controversy is a dispute about the current legitimate holder of the Panchen Lama title, a political and religious leadership position in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. After the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, a dispute between the Chinese leadership and the exiled 14th Dalai...
as "invalid". He has included monks and nuns over the age of 60 into the Chinese state social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
, and works with legislation delivering roads, electricity, and water to monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
.
Moreover, Pema Thinley, said at a Press Conference that Gedun Choki Nyima
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is, according to the 14th Dalai Lama, the eleventh Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Lhari County, Tibet. On May 14, 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was named the 11th Panchen Lama by the 14th Dalai Lama...
- the child recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama
Panchen Lama
The Panchen Lama , or Bainqên Erdê'ni , is the highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
- is an ordinary person, and that he and his parents wanted to stay away from public attention for their own safety.