Tibet, a region located in the Tibetan Plateau in Asia, covers approximately 2.4 million km2 of land, nearly a quarter of China’s territory. The characteristics that distinguish this region are its high elevation, averaging at roughly 4900 meters, and its rich cultural heritage associated with the Tibetan people.
Tibet’s Struggle for Independence
The Tibet’s struggle for independence began when the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, declared de facto Tibetan independence in early 1913. However, China refused to recognize Tibet’s independence and continued to assert sovereignty over the region. Between 1912 and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China had no control over what is today China’s Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
Chinese Invasion and Seventeen Point Agreement
Control over TAR didn’t begin until 1951 when Mao Zedong’s People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet. Following the invasion, Chinese authorities coerced Tibetan leaders into signing the “Seventeen Point Agreement”, professing Tibetan autonomy and respect towards Buddhist religion but also allowing Chinese civil and military offices to establish themselves in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
The 1959 Tibetan Uprising and its Aftermath
In response to escalating tensions, the Dalai Lama and many of his followers sought asylum in India in 1959. They formed an exiled government based in Dharamshala, India, known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
Following the uprising, China tightened its grip on Tibet, leading to severe restrictions on freedom of speech, religion, and press. Moreover, forced abortion, sterilization, and the transfer of low-income Chinese citizens have threatened the survival of Tibetan culture.
India-China Relations and Tibet
Tibet has been India’s neighbor for centuries, with most of India’s boundaries and the 3500km Line of Actual Control (LAC) shared with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, not with the rest of China. However, since China’s full accession of Tibet in 1950, the India-China-Tibet equation has become complicated due to the repudiation of the Simla convention and the McMahon line by China. This situation has been further compounded by the presence of the Dalai Lama in India, which China sees as a separatist move.
Recent Developments in Tibet
China has been directing resources towards infrastructure development in Tibet in recent years. Concurrently, China is reportedly trying to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama by promoting the narrative that Tibetan Buddhism has always been part of Chinese culture.
The Dalai Lama: An Overview
The Dalai Lama, hailing from the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, is believed to be the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. In Tibetan Buddhism, the process of selecting the next Dalai Lama involves identifying the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. The 14th and current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who may not choose to be reborn, especially not under Chinese rule, leaving uncertainty about the future of the Dalai Lamas.
The role of the Dalai Lama is significant for both political and religious leadership in Tibetan Buddhism, and the selection process deeply affects Tibetan cultural and religious traditions. Historically, this process takes several years; it took four years to find the 14th (current) Dalai Lama.