EP-446 | “China Had 20 Minutes to Warn People”: Lobsang Sangay on Nepal–Tibet Floods

Lobsang Sangay served as the democratically elected Sikyong, or President of the Central Tibetan Administration, from 2011 to 2021. He became its top political leader after the Dalai Lama gave up his political authority. Born in 1968, Sangay grew up in a Tibetan refugee settlement near Darjeeling, India. He studied at Delhi University and Harvard Law School before becoming an American citizen.In this ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sangay discusses the Nepal–Tibet floods and questions why China failed to issue a timely warning that could have saved hundreds of lives. He also alleges that Beijing censored videos and controlled the information coming out of Tibet. Sangay also speaks about Xi Jinping’s health, the purges within the PLA, China’s plans for Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s succession and the risk of China weaponising water.0:00 – Introduction1:34 – Tibet–Nepal Flash Floods2:24 – Internet Shutdown in Tibet4:17 – Could China Have Warned Nepal?6:51 – Why China Is Hiding the Truth9:02 – The Real Death Toll in Tibet10:58 – China Blocks Journalists and Scientists12:18 – Melting Glaciers and 2030 Warning15:06 – Dams, Earthquakes and AI Data Centres23:51 – Nepal’s Rescue Efforts28:12 – China’s Information-Control Playbook30:16 – International Water-Sharing Laws34:38 – China’s Mega-Dam on Brahmaputra36:52 – India–China Ties and Tibet39:17 – China’s Claims Over Arunachal43:15 – Purge of PLA Generals46:00 – Xi Jinping’s Health48:23 – Xi Jinping’s Succession Problem52:12 – China’s Ethnic Unity Law56:12 – Chinese Police Station58:31 – Dalai Lama’s Succession1:02:32 – Will There Be Two Dalai Lamas?1:12:17 – Chinese Pressure on Nepal1:14:59 – Tibet’s Future1:22:29 – Nepal Rejects Foreign Rescue Teams1:25:27 – The Human and Economic Cost1:27:05 – Conclusion