List of modern political leaders of Tibet


This article lists the modern political leaders of Tibet within the People's Republic of China. The transition from Lamaist rule in Tibet started in 1951 with the Seventeen Point Agreement between the Central People's Government of [the People's Republic of China (1949–1954)|Central People's Government] and the 14th Dalai Lama. A "Preparatory Committee for the Autonomous Region of Tibet" was established in 1956 in the former Tibet Area to create a parallel system of administration along Communist lines. Transition to secular government completed when Tibet Autonomous Region was officially founded in 1965 according to the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy|national autonomy law].
The politics in Tibet are structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in the People's Republic of China. Both the Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the chairman of the regional People's Congress, are by law ethnic Tibetans. There is also a branch secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, who is the top executive official.

TAR Government Chairmen

The chairman is the nominal leader of the Tibet Autonomous Region, a province-level administrative division of the People's Republic of China. The chairmen, and their times in office, are listed below. In practice, the chairman is subordinate to the [|branch secretary] of the Chinese Communist Party.
; Directors of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region
  1. 14th Dalai Lama: April 1956 – March 1959
  2. 10th Panchen Lama: March 1959 – December 1964
  3. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme: December 1964 – September 1965
; Chairmen of the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Committee
  1. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme: September 1965 – September 1968
; Heads of the Tibet Autonomous Region Revolutionary Committee
  1. Zeng Yongya : September 1968 – November 1970
  2. Ren Rong : November 1970 – August 1979
; Chairmen of the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Government
  1. Sanggyai Yexe : August 1979 – April 1981
  2. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme: April 1981 – May 1983
  3. Dorje Tseten a.k.a. Dorje Tsetsen or Duoji Caidan: May 1983 – December 1985
  4. Doje Cering a.k.a. Dorje Tsering or Duoji Cairang: December 1985 – May 1990
  5. Gyaincain Norbu: May 1990 – May 1998
  6. Legqog: May 1998 – May 2003
  7. Qiangba Puncog: May 2003 – January 2010
  8. Padma Choling: January 2010 – January 2013
  9. Losang Jamcan: January 2013 – January 2017
  10. Che Dalha : January 2017 – October 2021
  11. Yan Jinhai: October 2021 – October 2024
  12. Garma Cedain: from November 2024

TAR People's Congress Standing Committee Chairmen

; Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Congress
  1. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme : 1979–1981
  2. Yang Dongsheng : 1981–1983
  3. Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme : 1983–1993
  4. Raidi : 1993–2003
  5. Legqog : 2003–2010
  6. Qiangba Puncog : 2010–2013
  7. Padma Choling : 2013–2017
  8. Losang Jamcan a.k.a. Losang Gyaltsen: from 2017

CPPCC TAR Committee Chairmen

; Chairmen of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tibet Autonomous Region Committee
  1. Tan Guansan
  2. Zhang Guohua
  3. Ren Rong
  4. Yin Fatang
  5. Yangling Dorje
  6. Raidi
  7. Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, 11th Pagbalha