The Roof of the World – this is what Tibet is known as to the rest of the world. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, filled with rich cultural heritage, and dotted with serene lakes, Tibet is one of the most peaceful regions in the world. But while Tibet and its people are peaceful, their political situation and history are quite volatile.
Similar settings have been observed all around the world. Arguments in these situations are all about usurping land and resources. For instance, we have the recent Israel-Palestine conflict and the tug of war between India and Pakistan over the state of Kashmir. Tensions between these countries increase every now and then because of this.
Speaking of Tibet, we can’t ignore the issue between China and Taiwan. Taiwan is in a somewhat similar situation as Tibet, although the policies and struggles differ significantly.
So what is this struggle, and how did we even get to this point? Let’s see!
Early History
Civilization in Tibet dates back to 500 BC, according to ancient Tibetan historical texts, which identify that people migrated from the Amdo region. By the 1st century BC, new kingdoms emerged in the Yarlung valley. This increased as more tribes migrated into the region after the 2nd century AD.
The rest is history! The Yarlung kings established their control and worked to increase their influence. The whole of Tibet came under their jurisdiction.
Then came the era of fragmentation. This meant that the earliest empire set up by the Yarlung kings was collapsing, and political power was divided amongst the remaining contenders for the power to rule Tibet. The final breakup happened in 842, initiating the Tibetan Renaissance.
The word ‘Renaissance’ refers to the revival of culture and art. The Tibetan Renaissance saw Buddhism revived and spread to the far west and east of the empire. This was an important move for Tibet considering the majority of the population follows Buddhism to this day.
Mongol Conquest and the Era of Independence
After 1240, the Mongols made it to Tibet and offered their support to the Sakya dynasty. Documented proof shows a talk between the Mongols and Tibetans around 1221-22 when Tsang-pa Dung-khur, a Tibetan missionary, and his six disciples met Genghis Khan.
They decided to invade Tibet in 1240 and marched with 30,000 troops for battle. After a series of battles and campaigns, the Mongols finally incorporated Tibet into their empire in 1249. The Mongols decided to handle the structural and administrative decisions, while the Tibetans managed the religious and regional politics. This cooperation kept the empire intact for a long period.
This was the de facto independence era of Tibet. The Dalai Lama succeeded in the 17th century, and this era continued until the 18th century. Tibetans lived through 400 years of de facto independence.
China Strikes
The Chinese dynasties were actively ruling over Tibet during all of this. The Yuan dynasty initiated this, and after its decline, other families and dynasties took over. After this, there was the rule of the Dalai Lama.
However, soon the Qing defeated the then-occupants of Tibet, the Dzungars, in 1720, marking the beginning of Qing rule. The Qing emperors maintained their rule by appointing imperial residents who commanded troops and reported back regularly. But the Qing couldn’t sustain it for long, and the dynasty fell in 1912.
As soon as this happened, the Dalai Lama took action and drove away all Amban and Chinese troops from Tibet. They declared, “We are a small religious and independent nation.” Hence, Tibet enjoyed 36 additional years of de facto independence while China was preoccupied with the World Wars.
The People’s Republic of China
The World Wars eventually ended, and so did Tibet’s independence, whether de facto or real.
Joseph Stalin offered support to the Chinese Communists, helping them quickly gain power over China and form the People’s Republic of China in October 1949. Exactly one year later, their army entered Tibetan regions and defeated the Tibetans. Governments started negotiating, resulting in the Seventeen Point Agreement.
Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet into India in 1959
In 1962, Tibet – the portions ruled by the Dalai Lama – was renamed the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The structure changed so that the head of government in the TAR would indeed be a Tibetan, but all actual power rested with a CCP-appointed secretary.
Following this, Tibet faced significant turmoil. About 6000 Tibetan monasteries were destroyed by the CCP, and heavy surveillance was imposed on the people. Many policies implemented were detrimental to Tibetans, violating basic human rights. One example is the “Bilingual Education Policy,” which ostensibly promotes diversity but actually diminishes the value of the Tibetan language.
What is the Situation Now?
The current US president, Joe Biden, signed the Resolve Tibet Act, which was heavily opposed by China. Gone are the days when Tibet was closed off from the rest of the world. Every country is aware of the plight of the Tibetans. This act is one of many initiated by foreign supporters who believe there is still time to peacefully resolve the dispute between Tibet and China.
Attempts to resolve the situation are not new. The Dalai Lama and his representatives tried to negotiate with the Chinese government between 2002 and 2010, but no concrete outcome was achieved.
As for the people, the Dalai Lama and many refugees now reside in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India, after fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet. Approximately 150 people self-immolated in response to Chinese policies. Meanwhile, the Chinese view the 89-year-old Dalai Lama as a separatist, believing he wants to split the two regions. The US-endorsed act only increases tensions between Tibet, China, and the US.
“Tibet is dying a slow death.” This is what the exiled Tibetan leaders say about the current situation. Is this true? Maybe not now, but who knows about the future? What we do know is that the situation is extremely volatile, and intervention without a proper plan can be quite risky. The people of Tibet have been suffering for the past 70 years. A solution is required.
Resources
Early History
- Grousset, René (1970). The Empire of the Steppes. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-1304-9.
- McKay, Alex ed. (2003). History of Tibet. New York: RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 0-7007-1508-8.
- Shakabpa, Wangchuk Deden (1967). Tibet: A Political History. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-00898-2.
- Hoffman, Helmut. “Early and Medieval Tibet” in Sinor, David ed. Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990. pp. 388-394.
Mongol Conquest and the Era of Independence
- Wylie, Turnell (1990). “The First Mongol Conquest of Tibet Reinterpreted”. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 37 (1). Cambridge Mass.: Harvard Yenching Institute: 103–133. doi:10.2307/2718667. ISSN 0073-0548. JSTOR 2718667. OCLC 6015211726.
- Shakabpa, Wangchuk Deden (1967). Tibet: A Political History. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-00898-2.
- Buell, Paul D. (2011). “Tibetans, Mongols, and the Fusion of Eurasian Cultures”. In Akasoy, Anna; Burnett, Charles; Yoeli-Tlalim, Ronit (eds.). Islam and Tibet: Interactions Along the Musk Routes. Ashgate Publishing. pp. 188–208.
China Strikes
- Emblems of Empire: Selections from the Mactaggart Art Collection by John E. Vollmer, Jacqueline Simcox, p. 154.
- Shakya, Tsering (January 1999). The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947. Pimlico. ISBN 978-0-7126-6533-9. OCLC 40840911.
- Tibet Justice Center – Legal Materials on Tibet – Tibet – Proclamation Issued by His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIII (1913) [106]. (2024). Tibetjustice.org. Link
The People’s Republic of China
- Yangchen. (2021, March 10). The Crisis In Tibet: Six Decades And Counting – Central Tibetan Administration. Central Tibetan Administration – Restoring Freedom for Tibetans. Link
- Goldstein, Melvyn; Rimpoche, Gelek (1989). A history of modern Tibet 1913-1951. Volume 1 The demise of the Lamaist state. Berkeley, USA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06140-8. OCLC 419892433.
- Dodin, Thierry (2008). “Right to Autonomy”. In Blondeau, Anne-Marie; Buffetrille, Katia (eds.). Authenticating Tibet: Answers to China’s 100 Questions. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24464-
