Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made a rare trip to Tibet and hailed the crushing of “separatism” in the once-restive region, as Beijing prepares for a looming struggle over the successor of the aging and exiled Dalai Lama and the hearts and minds of millions of Tibetans.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made a rare visit to Tibet to mark the 60th anniversary of the consolidation of Beijing’s long-contested rule over the Himalayan territory

His two-day program coincided with ceremonies marking 60 years since China created the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965. During the visit, Xinhua reported that Xi told local officials to expand Mandarin instruction,