A famous Chinese open-water swimmer has raised the ire of Tibetans throughout China with his plans to swim across Namtso lake, the highest saltwater lake in the world at 15,475 feet, but a body of water held sacred by Tibetans. Young, urban Tibetans from around the country have signed a letter to Chinese authorities asking them to stop the swim, but they are taking the political savvy approach of expressing their grievances in a way that respects the sensitivities of China’s political establishment. They are hoping to obtain respect for Tibetan culture in China without challenging state authorities.
