DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 6: In a development hailed by Chinese state media as a “breakthrough” in mineral exploration, the China Geological Survey on Monday announced the discovery of over 20 million tonnes of new copper resources on the Tibetan Plateau. This addition brings projected copper stockpiles in Tibet to an estimated 150 million tonnes, consolidating Tibet, an occupied nation’s role as a critical hub for copper extraction.
According to Chinese authorities, four major copper resource bases—Yulong and Xiongcun-Zhunuo in Kham Province and Duolong and Julong-Jiama in U-Tsang—are poised to transform Tibet into a world-class centre for copper mining. Tang Juxing, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, underscored the strategic importance of copper for renewable energy technologies, including solar and wind energy systems and new-energy vehicles.
While Chinese officials frame this as a milestone in their pursuit of green energy, the exploitation of Tibet’s resources has come at a major ecological and social cost. The Tibetan Plateau, often referred to as Asia’s “water tower” for its role in feeding major rivers like the Yangtze, Mekong, and Brahmaputra, is under increasing strain from infrastructure projects and resource extraction. Large-scale mining operations, mega-dams, and forced relocations of Tibetan communities are accelerating the degradation of one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems.
The plateau’s biodiversity, already under threat from climate change, faces additional challenges from the mining industry. Environmentalists have flagged the contamination of water sources with heavy metals, including arsenic, linked to mining activities. Sand and gravel mining from riverbeds, critical for China’s infrastructure ambitions, has further exacerbated soil erosion, disrupted river flows, and destroyed farmlands.
China’s “Western Development Strategy,” rebranded as a high-quality economic reform plan for occupied nations like Tibet, has facilitated the rapid industrialisation of the plateau. However, critics argue that this strategy is less about uplifting local populations and more about consolidating control over Tibet’s resources. Tibet’s vast mineral reserves, including copper, lithium, and rare earth elements, are increasingly vital for China’s dominance in high-tech manufacturing and green technologies.
Despite claims of economic benefits, Tibetans often see little to no improvement in their quality of life under Chinese occupation. Instead, they face forced displacement, loss of traditional livelihoods, and repression of dissent. Rights groups say that the renaming of Tibet as “Xizang” by Chinese authorities further shows their efforts to erase Tibetan identity while exploiting the region’s natural wealth.
Tibetans who oppose or protest mining operations frequently encounter strict crackdowns by Chinese authorities. In October 2024, Tsongon Tsering received an eight-month prison sentence for protesting illegal sand mining in his village, Tsaruma, located in Kakhog (Chinese: Hongyuan) County, Ngaba.
Experts say that the environmental degradation caused by China’s mining in Tibet extends beyond regional borders. The Himalayas, which host the Tibetan Plateau, are critical to global climate stability and biodiversity. The disruption of this ecosystem poses long-term risks to water security, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of millions across Asia.
