China, in its latest white paper on Tibet issued on Nov 10, conspicuously avoided using the term "Tibet" and opted for "Xizang" in a bid to reinforce its sovereignty over the region, reported scmp.com on Dec 10. This strategic shift is seen as part of China's broader Sinicization efforts.

"Xizang" is the Mandarin pinyin for "Tibet." While traditionally, "Tibet" refers to a vast historical territory inhabited by the Tibetan people, China asserts that it now only encompasses the Xizang Autonomous Region. The move aims to erase the notion of Tibet as a distinct entity, particularly the eastern half, now part of Qinghai and other provinces.

Post the white paper release, Chinese official media significantly increased the use of "Xizang," relegating "Tibet" to specific scenarios. Notably, Xinhua's English website, which previously used "Tibet" in diverse contexts, now prominently features "Xizang" in its articles.

Despite Beijing's emphasis, experts believe this linguistic shift is unlikely to impact international references to the region, emphasizing China's pursuit of a unified national identity through the promotion of Mandarin. Professor Robert Barnett highlights Beijing's attempt to exercise "discourse power" by imposing Chinese terms, acknowledging that "Xizang" may not resonate beyond China.