Dharamshala — The Chinese authorities prohibit Tibetans from creating logos featuring religious symbols or the Tibetan language. They have tightened restrictions on the use of the Tibetan language in daily life, as well as on Buddhist symbols on logos and signs. They have further restricted the publication of Tibetan books, arrested Tibetan publishers, and banned the display of Thangkas and wearing traditional Tibetan hats. The aim is to eliminate all aspects of Tibetan identity.
According to a reliable source to the TPI, as of early April 2026, the Chinese authorities had prohibited Tibetans from designing logos incorporating religious symbols or the Tibetan language. This imposed a major challenge on Tibetan logo designers, as registering Tibet-related logos took four to five months. The source explained that Tibetans were prohibited from using Buddhist symbols or the Tibetan language in their designs.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has tightened restrictions on the use of the Tibetan language by introducing the so-called “Unity Law”, a piece of legislation that contradicts the CCP's own constitution. Article 4 (Paragraph 4) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China: states that "all ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and they have the freedom to maintain or reform their own customs and habits".
A government-run logo company in Beijing has denied Tibetans the right to create logos containing religious symbols or the Tibetan language in early April, 2026. Tibetans have been informed that they cannot use Buddhist symbols or the Tibetan language in logos when registering small businesses or restaurants.
Tibetans face particular challenges when registering a small business or creating a logo, as they must undergo a more complex process than Chinese individuals. This is an example of discrimination against Tibetans by the Chinese authorities. The PRC not only discriminates against Tibetans in terms of the economy, employment, and government employment, but also language, religion, and culture. How can they claim that "Tibetans are happy" under the PRC when discrimination and repression are present in every area of life?
According to Tibetan scholar Dawa Tsering, the new Chinese law poses the greatest difficulty and hardship for Tibetans. It represents a significant deterioration in the situation, as it is the first time that the Chinese authorities have enacted legislation prohibiting the use of the Tibetan language. In reality, the PRC authorities have practised, and continue to practise, oppressive activities designed to eliminate Tibetan identity, including its language, religion, and culture. The new legislation appears to be intended to eradicate Tibetan identity by closing Tibetan schools, preventing subjects from being taught in Tibetan, and forcing millions of Tibetan children into Chinese boarding schools where only Chinese culture and the ideologies of Chinese leaders are taught. This is the most critical situation for Tibetans in Tibet.
