Why Did China Invade Tibet?

There has been a struggle for many years between China and Tibet. In 1906, two years after the British took control of Tibet, the British agreed to let China take possession of Tibet. The Tibetans self-ruled until 1950 when Mao ordered his communist troops into China. China felt that Tibet still belonged to China. Tibet wanted to be free from China.

In 1950, China was under the rule of Mao Zedong. Mao ordered his troops to invade the tiny country of Tibet. He installed a full battalion of troops in the country. The country was overwhelmed. Their leader, the Dalai Lama, fled to live in exile.

From the viewpoint of the Chinese government, Tibet was a part of their country and always had been. Their invasion was to exert control back over the region after the agreement they had made with the British.

Before leaving the country under pressure from the Chinese government, the Dalai Lama was forced to sign the 17-point treaty. In the treaty, he agreed that China had a legal claim to Tibet, but he stated that he signed the agreement under duress.

The takeover of the Chinese government by Mao Zedong had also, at the time, converted the form of government to communism. The communistic influences led to the belief that that each and every province of China needed to be reminded of the consequences of rebellion.

The declaration of the Dalai Lama to establish freedom from China had merely hardened the resolve of China. The Chinese government further asserted that the rule of the Dalai Lama was inept and had caused excess suffering to the Tibetan people. To prove this statement, they point to the improvement in economic, social and racial improvements that have taken place under the Chinese occupation.

Disagreement Over Absorbing Tibet into China

The Tibetan people claim that there have existed economic, social and racial inequalities during the entire occupation of China by its troops. They also know that they are slowly being absorbed into the mainland of China. Their culture and national heritage are slowly being lost as the Chinese continue to make the land into a new home and a solution to their own growing overpopulation problem.

The Chinese have tried, by enforced government regulations and laws, to bring the country of Tibet into the mainland. This will not only solve many immediate problems of the Chinese people, but also will help China to save face in the eyes of the world.

The summation of this entire struggle is that the Tibetan people feel they are being absorbed by China and that by enforcing Chinese rule they will loose their ethnic heritage. Their way of life and freedom will be lost and that eventually, as Chinese immigrants flood into Tibet, they truly will become part of China.

The Chinese have tried to extend their borders to accommodate a growing population. They have set their sights on Tibet as land that they can easily annex into the Chinese mainland without the complaint of the rest of the family of nations around the world.

Background on the Dispute

The history of this dispute begins way back in the 12th century. Russia and Britain were struggling with each other over the possession of Central Asia. Finally, in 1904, the British took control of this region in what the Tibetans called an invasion. Britain dispatched several thousand troops to the region to maintain control.

After the occupation of the British, in 1906, China and Britain came to an agreement whereby China would take possession of Tibet. China held up the fact that they had always felt that Tibet was part of China.

Dalai Lama Returns

In 1912, after years in exile, the leader of Tibet returned to his homeland. The Dalai Lama then proceeded to reconsolidate his power and, while China was in the midst of collapse from the fall of the Qin dynasty, the Dalai Lama assumed the throne and declared Tibet free and independent.

No Solution After Sixty Years of Occupation

During the last 60 years, the Chinese occupation has done nothing to lessen the outrage by their actions. The current Dalai Lama is revered and respected the world over and has succeeded in garnering support for the cause of freeing Tibet.

The entire issue of China invading Tibet is a complex one that has lasted 60 years.