By Jake Candelaria
The
struggle that has ensued between China and Tibet from 1945 until the present
day surely has more reasons than one. Tension between the two bodies has
increased as of late, and does not show signs of stopping. Although there are
many political and social reasons why Tibet and China have had problems, it is
pretty clear that the Chinese intentions for holding Tibet as a territory are
more economic and geographic than anything else.
China
continues to hold claims to Tibet to extract resources from the fertile land
while promoting economic growth in the region. The Chinese have shown
statistics about Tibetan economic growth due to China’s help, but the figures
that China forgot to leave out show that the “beneficiaries” of this growth
live mostly in the urban areas of Tibet where the people of Han ethnicity
mostly live, with not much growth in rural Tibet where 87 percent of Tibetans
live (cecc.gov). Tibetans are unable to compete with surrounding Chinese
regions, as well as the Han who live within their borders, and suffer massive
poverty because of Chinese stranglehold of their economy. Though the Tibetan national
GDP has risen slightly in the past few years, the Tibetan poor are only
becoming poorer while China continues to
Another pressing issue has added tension to the struggle.
China has one of the poorest qualities of water in Asia due to its growing
population and its struggle to find space to fit its own resources and its people.
A recent study has quoted a researcher saying,
“The big issue in Asia, apart from climate change, is
whether China will exploit its control of the Tibetan Plateau to increasingly
siphon off for its own use the waters of the international rivers that are the
lifeblood of the countries located in a contiguous arc from Vietnam to
Afghanistan” (uscc.gov).
China is more than willing
to take as much water from the Tibetan Plateau through dams as it needs. The
Chinese are not only putting nature in harm’s way by creating these water
systems, but they are also affecting the Tibetan economy by putting the Tibetan
Plateau and its resource of water at risk, potentially devastating agriculture
in Tibet which is survival for many poor Tibetans. A government committee on
global warming has also stated that the Tibetan tundra will suffer serious
warming patterns and temperature increases at the steady rate that they have
been, which will only make the sandstorms and droughts of Northern China more
devastating (Impact Zone: China). This
will damage an already suffering Tibetan population that cannot even control
and regulate its own economy.
Works Cited:
ReplyDelete1. "Tibet." Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Web. 29 April 2012. .
2.Water Security and the Environmental Management on the Tibetan Plateau http://www.uscc.gov/hearings/2012hearings/written_testimonies/12_01_26/12_1_26_CTA_testimony.pdf
3. "The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming." Global Warming Impact Zones. Web. 01 May 2012. .
Jake, I completely agree with your analysis of China’s exploitation of Tibet. There is no doubt that China wishes to further itself through Tibet’s resources without care as to what becomes of Tibet. China’s exploitation of Tibet, not only furthers the economic growth of China by providing China with resources, but also reiterates China’s desire to regain power. By exploiting Tibet’s resources, China is doing to Tibet what England did to China in the 1800s. By reversing its situation, China assumes its position as Tibet’s superior and thus, creates the image of a powerful China to intimidate foreign powers. China exploits Tibet’s resources to further its own development; however, by improving China’s economy, it increases China’s power as well as presenting China as a powerful force in the world. Thus, through this exploitation, China gains global power, their ultimate goal.
ReplyDeleteJake, I completely take your side in your argument over the ease China had to exploit Tibet. You are absolutely right in your argument that Tibet is simply a way to make China more stronger and wealthier. I completely understand the way you are viewing the hostility between Tibet and China as an economic issue. However you fail to provide information on how the conflict between the two nations were started over a social issue. One of the many uprisings in Tibet acted as a catalyst to a spiral of events which escalated into China's take over of Tibet. To avoid rule from the Manchu, Tibet revolted, and this is what made the Chinese to start ignoring their independence. Because of your lack of background, it causes you to fail to put any social issues which caused the split, which are ultimate causes of the main split. Overall, you have excellent evidence, and you have provided excellent reason on to why Tibet is a pawn in China's ultimate plan, which is to gain global power.
ReplyDelete-Cristian
Jake, I agree with your argument that the oppression in Tibet is an economic issue concerning China’s exploitation of its natural resources, but there are more factors contributing to this issue. I agree with your analysis of the dangers this exploitation can cause for Tibet’s agricultural economy and the Tibetan tundra, but there are also social factors concerning China’s negative views of religion and political factors concerning China’s unrelenting control over this country. The Chinese communist government views religion as a threat to the government, and therefore, sets many limitations on the practice of religion within Tibet. This has caused many protests for religious freedom and the exile of Tibet’s leader, the Dalai Lama. Their leader’s exile is also a result of the Chinese invasion in 1945. The Chinese government views this as a necessary measure to regain control over a country they continue to consider a territory of its nation although it had ruled in autonomy for many years and many nations consider it to be an independent country. Again, I agree with your argument that this is an economic issue, but you have to recognize the social and political issues also involved in this crisis in order to understand all of the factors at the root of the oppression of Tibet.
ReplyDelete-Victoria
Thank you all for your points against my argument, they have helped me see some of the other aspects of the struggle that I have missed. The social differences between China and Tibet have played a major role in their inability to resolve their issues, such as the exile of the Dalai Lama. I can also agree with you, Rob, that China's exploitation of Tibet as a whole stems from a fear of losing their world power and a greed for more power. China uses Tibet for its goods to maintain its position of power politically. I can also see much more clearly how social issues have led to China's later politically and economically aggressive moves against Tibet. Overall, i can agree that all three issues of social, political, and economic have led to the strains on the relationship between China and Tibet.
ReplyDelete