Tibet and China’s conflict is no issue unknown to the world. The greed to get hold of more power and the inhumaneness to try to wipe off an ethnicity by China has only increased over the decades. Even in such dire circumstances, Tibetans have not given up and have led the freedom struggle to great heights with sheer determination and for the love of their lost country. China’s narrative over the years has been the same of Tibet always being a part of them while Tibetans have clearly denied this with enough proof. Tibet has for centuries been a land with its own unique culture, religion and language. In 1913, the 13th Dalai Lama who was the then political and spiritual leader of Tibet issued a proclamation reaffirming Tibet’s independence. His statement was “We are a small, religious, and independent nation.” Tibet has in fact always had its own national flag, currency, stamps, signed international treaties and diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. Tibet’s independence as a once free nation can be proved right with just these proofs.
Some of the arguments laid by China to claim Tibet as its own can be very easily proved wrong. The communist party states that Tibet was conquered during the Yuan dynasty which turned it into an inseparable part of China. The emphasis laid is on the fact that since then, Tibet has never been a free country and has never been recognized as one. Tibet has been influenced by various foreign powers such as Britain, the Mongols and China in the past. Tibet was however never ruled by the Chinese government before the 1950 invasion. The 13th Dalai Lama’s proclamation is also a proof of this. Legally, Tibet is an independent state that has been illegally occupied by China. China has also set forth the argument that from 1950 to 1959, the peacefully liberated and reformed Tibet and ended the serfdom that was in existence. The real fact is however completely different from China’s make believe tale.
The establishment of the communist regime in invaded Tibet and the presence of the Chinese army led to the forced signing of the “Seventeen Point Agreement” which recognized China’s rule in promises to protect Tibet’s political system and Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans never welcomed the Chinese so-called liberators and fought endlessly against them. On 10th March 1959, 300,000 Tibetans surrounded the Potala Palace to offer the Dalai Lama protection. The resistance started then which is why the date is still commemorated as the National Uprising Day by Tibetans and their supporters. China’s declaration of Tibet having its own autonomy is also completely false. The Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) exists merely as a name. There are thousands of Tibetans living in other nations in exile while the Tibetans in Tibet are living under the constant oppression and brutality of the communist government.
Tibetans have never been accepting of China’s forced rule. China’s occupation of Tibet has only led to death and destruction. Countless Tibetans have lost their lives since the brutal occupation and the land has been shredded bare for China’s own greed and growth. Tibet has always been a land filled with rich natural resources. The numerous projects and the mass immigration of Chinese people have robbed Tibetans off the right to use their own resources. China’s economic growth has seen a huge rise over the years while Tibetans have lived in poverty. The harm caused to the Tibetan land is severe, be it the rivers, the mineral resources or the land once known for being the third pole of the world. Tibetan nomads are forced to resettle and give up their lifestyle and livelihood. Tibetans monks and nuns are disrobed and forced out of monastic institutions to practice their own religion. Tibetans are constantly displaced and left homeless for China’s never ending projects. The lack of basic human rights has been an issue in need of dire attention for so long.
China despite gaining so much from their illegal occupation still claims that the land was always theirs to begin with. The border issues of Tibet with other nations, who clearly have it stated in their history or documents are proof of Tibet being a free country. The border countries having signed treaties in the
past is also proof. Tibet’s Imperial age and then the formation of a kingdom is proof. Tibet’s relation with India goes way back before China’s forceful occupation in the 1950s.Indian Buddhist Scholar, Padmasambhava came to Tibet to teach Buddhism. Mongol’s history entwined with Tibet is also proof of Tibet being a free nation once. China’s history with Tibet is also elaborate with wins and losses but China’s claims over Tibet never being free from their grasp is highly unacceptable and untrue.
Michael Van Walt, a lawyer from the United States has stated, “From a legal standpoint, Tibet has to this day not lost its statehood. It is an independent state under illegal occupation.” This statement is true to its core. China being a powerful nation is the reason why other countries are unable to agree to this. It may be set in their history and their past but they will never accept this because of China’s economic and military status. It is truly unfair to the people and the land of Tibet that despite possessing such proof that has been and can be shown to the world, it still has to fight for their lost land and its recognition. Tibet’s illegal occupation and the people’s struggle if not catered to with the needed support will go down in the history as the most tragic case of injustice and inhumanity.
