Tibetan delegation head who surrendered at Chamdo and signed the Seventeen Point Agreement; chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region
Born into an aristocratic family in Lhasa, he studied in Britain and joined the Tibetan army on his return in 1932. A cabinet member of the Dalai Lama’s government who advocated reform, he was appointed governor-general of Chamdo and commander-in-chief of the Tibetan army in April 1950. Judging negotiation the better course, he had the fortifications removed, and in October 1950 surrendered Chamdo to the PLA. In 1951 he led the Tibetan delegation to the Beijing negotiations and signed the Seventeen Point Agreement; the exile community holds that the signature was obtained under duress and exceeded his powers. He then served as deputy commander of the Tibet Military District, from 1965 as chairman of the People’s Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and from 1954 to 1988 as a vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
Also known as: Ngapo Ngawang Jigmê · Ngabo Ngawang Jigme
Activities and affiliations
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1951–2009
People’s Republic of China state institutionsVice-chairman of the NPC Standing CommitteeMain
Government and administration -
1952–1977
People’s Republic of China state institutionsDeputy commander of the Tibet Military District
Military command
Career Timeline
- 1932Served in the Tibetan army after study in Britain
- 1936Local official in Chamdo
- 1950Governor-general of Chamdo and Tibetan commander-in-chief; surrendered in October
- 1951Head of the Tibetan delegation in Beijing; signed the Seventeen Point Agreement
- 1952–1977Deputy commander, Tibet Military District
- 1954–1988Vice-chairman, NPC Standing Committee
- 1956Secretary-general, Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region
- 1965Chairman, People’s Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region
- 1979–1993Chairman, NPC Ethnic Affairs Committee