Preserving Buddhism in Bhutan amid Sinicisation of Tibet

India’s support for Bhutan’s spiritual, cultural, and political autonomy has gained renewed significance amid China’s aggressive Sinicisation of Tibetan Buddhism. Prime Minister Modi’s 2025 visit coincided with Bhutan’s Global Peace Prayer Festival, a historic gathering of eminent lamas from all Buddhist traditions, symbolising unity and resistance to cultural erasure. The event honoured the Fourth King’s 70th birthday and reaffirmed Bhutan’s Buddhist heritage. Meanwhile, China pushed for tighter ideological control over Tibetan Buddhism, emphasizing assimilation under the “Chinese national community.” Against this backdrop, Indo-Bhutan relations—rooted in trust and shared civilizational values—remain crucial for preserving Buddhism across the Himalayas.