Following the 1950 incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China, Mandarin was emphasized in education and governance. This policy aimed to integrate Tibetan society into the broader Chinese cultural and political framework, often suppressing local languages and traditions. The promotion of Mandarin has had profound implications for Tibetan identity and cultural preservation, leading to ongoing debates about language rights.

Chinese language policies in Tibet since 1950 challenged but also inspired Tibetan exile poetry and resistance literature. Poets like Tsering Wangmo Dhompa have used their work to articulate the struggles of identity and cultural preservation in a changing landscape.