Panchen Rinpoche concludes six-month tour of Xizang

Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po, more commonly known as Panchen Rinpoche and a leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has completed a six-month tour of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, during which he performed regular duties, conducted research and surveys, and participated in various Buddhist and social activities.

During his tour, Panchen Rinpoche, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, attended celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region in the regional capital Lhasa in August.

He then visited the prefecture-level cities of Qamdo, Nagqu, and Xigaze to conduct field research, gaining insights into rural revitalization, the development of harmonious and beautiful highland villages, and the advancement of Tibetan medicine.

He also traveled to Dingri County in Xigaze to learn about post-quake reconstruction progress and assess local residents' living conditions after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the county in January.

At the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigaze, his traditional seat, Panchen Rinpoche presided over the Kalachakra (wheel of time) ritual and attended both the 30th-anniversary commemoration of his enthronement and a symposium on the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhist Living Buddhas.

Over the past three decades since his enthronement, Panchen Rinpoche has upheld Tibetan Buddhism's proud tradition of patriotism and devotion to faith. His Buddhist scholarship has grown ever more profound, earning him deep affection and respect from monastics and devotees alike.

He has made significant contributions to promoting ethnic unity, religious harmony, and Xizang's social stability and development.

As president of the Xizang branch of the Buddhist Association of China, Panchen Rinpoche also convened a series of work meetings of the branch, visited major monasteries including the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, and held extensive discussions with leaders and practitioners across the Tibetan Buddhist community.

He encouraged monastics to actively engage in the new journey toward Chinese modernization, and to play a greater role in advancing the adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism to socialist society, fostering a stronger sense of the Chinese nation as one community, and jointly writing a new chapter for a more beautiful Xizang.

Panchen Rinpoche concludes six-month tour of Xizang

A group of Japanese gathered in Tokyo on Sunday to protest against the country's record defense budget plan and demand the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to curb the military expansion.

Japan's draft defense budget was set at a record 9.04 trillion yen (about 58 billion U.S. dollars) for fiscal 2026, local media reported Friday.

The figure exceeds the previous record initial budget of 8.7 trillion yen for the current fiscal 2025 starting in April and is in line with Japan's defense buildup plan to allot about 43 trillion yen to defense outlays from fiscal 2023 through 2027.

The Sunday protesters held banners and chanted slogans at downtown Tokyo, urging the Japanese government to adhere to its commitment to the pacifist constitution, which renounces the nation's right to engage in war or to resort to military force to resolve international conflicts.

"We oppose the Takaichi administration's massive military buildup and its tough and belligerent rhetoric. The Liberal Democratic Party and its current coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, claim that expanding military buildup will bring peace. But they actually seek personal gains from the profits of the military-industrial complexes of Japan and the United States. This is wrong. They want to swiftly abolish Article 9 of the Constitution, while we must take action to protect it," said a protester.

"Germany and Italy have both reflected on World War II. Japan now has Articles 9 of the Constitution, which clearly outlaws war and prohibits Japan from sending troops to other countries. Therefore, Japan's Diet and the state must be strictly bound by the Constitution," said another protester.

A demonstrator said the Japanese government's military buildup and erroneous remarks regarding China have damaged the friendship between the two countries and indicated a worrying anti-China attitude.

"Japan's continuous increase in defense spending not only diverts funds from people's livelihood but also constitutes preparations for war. We don't want it. I am very sad about the trouble Takashi's remarks have caused to the Chinese people. But I hope that at least friendship between the people of the two countries can be maintained. If the Japanese government incites its people to oppose and criticize China, it is truly embarking on the path to war," she said.

Japanese protest against record defense budget