India, Jan. 2 -- China's latest gold-mining drive in Kham Zachukha has exposed a ruthless campaign to dispossess Tibetans of their sacred land and silence dissent through force and fear. Aggressive mining at Serkhok ("Gold Valley") has cut into a traditional grazing ground and spiritually revered landscape, while peaceful protests have been met with raids, torture, enforced disappearances and a sweeping communications blackout. This weaponised model of "development" shows Beijing using mining, surveillance and repression to tighten its grip over Tibet and crush resistance to the destruction of the plateau's fragile environment.

In November, residents of Kashi village in Sershul County discovered large-scale gold mining underway at Serkho...