Tashi Gyatso was a Tibetan layperson from Dalang Township in Machen County who was arrested near the Nepal–Tibet border while returning from exile. He was detained after allegedly attempting to escape from Chinese authorities. During his arrest, officials reportedly found him in possession of politically sensitive materials, including Tibetan national flags, the autobiography of the 14th Dalai Lama, and other books considered politically prohibited.

Chinese authorities sentenced Tashi Gyatso to twelve years’ imprisonment on political charges. He is reportedly detained in Golog Prefecture Prison, and his sentence has been regarded as one of the harshest imposed on a Tibetan political prisoner in Qinghai Province.