In a deeply troubling development that has sent shockwaves through the Tibetan community worldwide, respected religious leader and humanitarian Tulku Hungkar Dorje has died under highly suspicious circumstances while in Chinese custody. The tenth throne holder of Lungngon Monastery in Gade County, Golog, Tibet, was reportedly detained in Vietnam in March 2025 before dying just days later. The case bears all the hallmarks of China’s ongoing campaign to silence influential Tibetan voices and represents a disturbing escalation in cross-border persecution of religious and cultural leaders.
Tulku Hungkar Dorje was apprehended on March 25, 2025, from his hotel room in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in a joint operation orchestrated by Vietnamese police and Chinese intelligence agents. This coordinated action raises serious alarms about China’s capabilities to pursue Tibetan figures beyond its borders. Following his arrest, he was transferred to a local public security bureau on March 28, where he died under unexplained circumstances that same day. The timing and location of his death, occurring so quickly after falling into Chinese hands, cannot be viewed as coincidental.
The handling of Hungkar Dorje’s body further compounds concerns about foul play. His remains are reportedly being held at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, which is currently under heavy military guard with restricted access. When officials from Lungngon Monastery were summoned to receive his death certificate, they were prohibited from keeping the document or even photographing it—a clear attempt to prevent any independent investigation into the cause of death. Even more troubling, when representatives from the monastery traveled to Vietnam to recover his remains, they were denied access to meetings with Chinese officials.
This pattern of secrecy speaks volumes. If Tulku Hungkar Dorje died of natural causes, why the elaborate security? Why the refusal to return his body? Why prevent monastery officials from examining or retaining documentation related to his death? These actions strongly suggest authorities have something to hide.
The events leading to Hungkar Dorje’s death reveal a clear pattern of targeted persecution. He had been in hiding in Vietnam since late September 2024 due to harassment from Chinese authorities in Tibet. This followed an earlier incident in August 2024 when Chinese officials claimed he had “gone missing” shortly after delivering a public teaching. The timeline suggests a coordinated effort to silence him that spanned several months and ultimately crossed international borders.
The death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign against Tibetan cultural and religious figures. Authorities targeted him on fabricated charges after he declined to arrange an elaborate reception for the Chinese government-appointed Panchen Lama during his visit to the Golog region. This coercion represents Beijing’s ongoing attempts to control Tibetan Buddhism and force religious leaders to legitimize its appointees.
Additional accusations leveled against Hungkar Dorje included “disobeying higher authorities” for his philanthropic work of establishing monasteries and schools, and “causing disturbances” for advocating for the rights of marginalized Tibetans under Chinese rule. These charges reveal the real threat he posed to authorities: his effectiveness in preserving Tibetan identity, language, and culture through education and religious practice.
The suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje represents a troubling escalation in China’s systematic targeting of influential Tibetan figures, who promote Tibetan culture, language, and identity. This assessment is consistent with China’s broader strategy of neutralizing Tibetan voices who command respect within their communities and could potentially inspire resistance to cultural assimilation policies.
Born in 1969, Tulku Hungkar Dorje dedicated his life to preserving Tibetan culture and improving the lives of ordinary Tibetans. He established a philanthropic foundation and founded several primary and secondary schools that provided free education to thousands of Tibetan children from nomadic and agricultural communities. His educational initiatives directly challenged China’s assimilation policies by ensuring young Tibetans could receive education that preserved their language and cultural heritage. Such work, while humanitarian in nature, posed a direct challenge to authorities attempting to dilute Tibetan identity.
It is telling that among the charges leveled against him was establishing schools “without authorization”—revealing how education itself is viewed as threatening when it preserves Tibetan culture.
This transnational dimension represents a dangerous precedent that threatens Tibetan exiles worldwide. If China can successfully pressure foreign governments to participate in the detention and handover of Tibetan figures, no place may be truly safe for those who speak out against Chinese policies in Tibet.
International human rights organizations must join in pressing China for accountability in this case. The suspicious death of a prominent religious leader in state custody merits independent investigation, particularly given China’s documented history of mistreating Tibetan prisoners of conscience.
The death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje illustrates the human cost of China’s policies in Tibet. His case exemplifies how the Chinese government systematically targets those who peacefully work to preserve Tibetan culture and religion. The way he was pursued across international borders, detained without due process, and died in unexplained circumstances with his body withheld from his community reflects a profound disregard for human rights, religious freedom, and cultural dignity.
As Tibetans express their grief, many have voiced doubts about the official narrative—reflecting widespread suspicion about the circumstances of his death. The international community must not allow this case to fade from attention without demanding answers. China’s treatment of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, from his initial targeting to the handling of his death, demands scrutiny and accountability. His life’s work in education and cultural preservation represented hope for Tibet’s future. His suspicious death in Chinese custody represents a tragedy that extends far beyond one man—it symbolizes the ongoing struggle of an entire people to preserve their identity in the face of systematic repression.
