The 17th seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS), scheduled to bring together more than 700 scholars and researchers in Kathmandu from August 23 to 29, 2026, has been moved entirely online following a decision by the Nepalese authorities that has raised concerns about Chinese diplomatic pressure and academic freedom. The conference had been planned for several years and was expected to attract participants from around 40 countries.
The event was to be co-hosted by Kathmandu University’s Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies and its Centre for Buddhist Studies. The programme covers a broad range of subjects related to Tibet and the Himalayan region, including Tibetan language, history, culture, religion, philosophy and society. The IATS considers the seminar a major international forum for academic research on Tibetan and Himalayan studies.
The controversy intensified in early August. According to the IATS, senior Nepalese officials instructed Kathmandu University on August 3 not to proceed with hosting the conference. The instruction was reportedly delivered verbally by Nepal’s Chief Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karkee and Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai to university officials. The organizers said they had not received a formal written explanation from the Nepalese government.
The decision came amid reports of diplomatic concerns expressed by Beijing. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming reportedly met with Nepal’s Foreign Secretary on July 21 and raised concerns about the possibility that representatives linked to the Tibetan government-in-exile could use the conference as a platform to criticize China. Nepalese authorities have emphasized the country’s commitment to its longstanding “One China” policy.
The Central Tibetan Administration, based in Dharamshala, had initially considered sending an official delegation to the conference but ultimately decided against doing so amid concerns over the diplomatic situation. Tibetan researchers could nevertheless participate in their individual academic capacity.
China’s position on Tibet is particularly sensitive. Beijing considers Tibet an integral part of China and strongly opposes activities it views as supporting Tibetan separatism. The issue has therefore become a recurring source of diplomatic tension between China and countries hosting Tibetan organizations, researchers or cultural events.
For Nepal, the situation reflects the delicate balance it must maintain with its powerful northern neighbor. Kathmandu has deepening economic, infrastructure and diplomatic ties with Beijing, while also seeking to preserve its relations with India and other international partners. Nepal has repeatedly affirmed that its territory will not be used for activities directed against China.
The IATS Board strongly criticized the intervention, describing it as unexpected and unwarranted interference in what it considers a purely academic gathering. The organization nevertheless decided to preserve the conference by transferring it to a fully online format. The academic programme remains in place, allowing researchers to present their work remotely. However, the organizers acknowledged that the virtual format cannot fully reproduce the benefits of face-to-face academic exchanges and creates difficulties for participants located in different time zones.
The decision also has practical consequences for Nepal. More than 700 participants had reportedly already purchased airline tickets and booked hotels in Kathmandu. The event had also required several years of preparation and significant organizational and financial commitments from the institutions involved. The IATS has warned that the cancellation of the physical conference could damage Nepal’s reputation as a destination for major international academic events.
Despite the cancellation of the physical gathering, many researchers who had planned to attend remained in Kathmandu and continued informal academic exchanges. The situation has therefore not completely prevented scholarly discussions on Tibet, but it has changed the setting in which those discussions are taking place.
Beyond the conference itself, the episode raises broader questions about academic freedom and the ability of governments to organize international scholarly events without political interference. It also illustrates how geopolitical disputes can increasingly affect universities, researchers and cultural institutions, even when their activities are primarily academic rather than political.
For Nepal, the controversy highlights the difficult choices created by its geopolitical position between major regional powers. For China, Tibet remains one of its most sensitive political issues, while for international researchers, the episode has become an important example of the growing intersection between scholarship, diplomacy and geopolitical influence.
By moving the IATS seminar online, the organizers have ensured that the academic discussions will continue. However, the controversy surrounding the event is likely to fuel further debate over the limits of diplomatic influence, Nepal’s foreign-policy choices and the protection of academic freedom when research concerns politically sensitive subjects such as Tibet.
