Chinese state media accuse Real Madrid of separatism over Tibet and Nepal flood tribute

Real Madrid is at the center of a diplomatic controversy with Chinese authorities after posting a message of condolence for the natural disaster that devastated Nepal and the Tibetan county of Gyirong. The Spanish club shared an image on its official Instagram account showing the minute of silence held at the Santiago Bernabéu ahead of the league match against Málaga, with a caption that mentioned Nepal and Tibet together. Chinese state media have interpreted that wording as an attempt to place a Chinese region on the same level as an independent state.

• Real Madrid posted an Instagram tribute to the victims of the flood that hit Nepal and the Tibetan county of Gyirong.
• Chinese state media believe the joint mention of Tibet and Nepal equates a Chinese region with a sovereign nation.
• The Global Times said the club's wording fuels covert separatist rhetoric and demanded the use of the name 'Xizang'.
• The minute of silence took place before the La Liga match against Málaga at the Santiago Bernabéu.
• The August 26 flood left more than 1,000 dead and over 4,000 missing across Nepal and the Tibetan region.

What happened with Real Madrid's social media post

The controversy began when the Madrid club shared a post on its official Instagram profile linked to the tribute for the flood victims. In the publication, Real Madrid remembered those affected by the disaster that struck Nepal and Tibet after a glacial collapse triggered a massive surge of water and debris. The image captured the minute of silence held by players and fans at the Bernabéu during the weekend league fixture.

Following the publication, numerous Chinese media outlets reacted with sharp criticism. The dispute quickly became one of the most discussed topics on Weibo, the microblogging platform that serves as China's alternative to X. A hashtag promoted by the Beijing Daily, titled 'Real Madrid lists Tibet and Nepal together and refuses to correct it', climbed to eleventh place among the platform's trending topics, with participation from more than twenty media organizations.

The Global Times and Chinese state media response

The Global Times, an English-language newspaper affiliated with the People's Daily and the communication organ of the ruling Communist Party of China, published an article openly condemning the wording of Real Madrid's message. According to the outlet, the way the club combined both geographic references in a single phrase is incorrect and helps legitimize positions that question Chinese sovereignty over the Tibet region.

The message's wording essentially fuels covert separatist rhetoric.

The state-backed newspaper also demanded that Real Madrid use the names employed by Beijing authorities when referring to that territory, such as 'Xizang', the transliteration of the region's Chinese name, or 'Chinese Tibet'. Beijing has controlled the autonomous region in southwest China since the 1950s, and its political, cultural and religious situation has drawn criticism from countries including the United States, the European Union, the UN and various human rights organizations.

The flood that devastated Nepal and the Tibetan county of Gyirong

The disaster that prompted Real Madrid's tribute began on August 26 in Nepal, when a glacial collapse generated an enormous mass of ice, rocks and mud that swept down the valley and reached Gyirong county. The torrent destroyed a border crossing connecting Nepal with the Tibet autonomous region, one of the busiest trade routes between the two territories.

Separate casualty figures released by Nepal and China put the death toll above one thousand, while the number of missing people exceeds 4,000. The scale of the tragedy has prompted condolences from around the world, including the one from the Spanish club, which has nevertheless been overshadowed by the political dispute ignited in China.

What this controversy means for Real Madrid in China

Real Madrid maintains a significant fan base in China, a key market for the club's international expansion in terms of both sponsorship and audience. The reach of the Weibo hashtag demonstrates the ability of state media to mobilize Chinese digital public opinion when a foreign entity touches on sensitive issues for Beijing, such as sovereignty over Tibet.

So far, the Madrid club has neither modified nor removed the post that sparked the controversy, which has fueled further criticism on Chinese social media. State media insist that the club should correct the message and align with the terminology recognized by Chinese authorities in future public communications.

Tibet and Nepal: why terminology is a matter of state for China

For Beijing, any wording that places Tibet on the same level as a sovereign country is interpreted as a threat to its territorial integrity. The demand to use names such as 'Xizang' or 'Chinese Tibet' is part of a consistent policy of defending Chinese sovereignty over the region, which has been under Beijing's control since the 1950s following the intervention of the People's Liberation Army.

The dispute with Real Madrid fits a pattern repeated by Chinese authorities in response to communications from sports institutions, brands and international organizations that mention Tibet without the nuances demanded by Beijing. In this context, the episode has served as an opportunity for state media to reiterate the Chinese government's position on the autonomous region and its rejection of any discourse that could be associated, even indirectly, with independence claims.

Frequently asked questions about the Real Madrid and China controversy