China's Oppression of Tibet - History Blog 2

By Robert Sweeney

Despite Chinese claims to Tibet and a desire for Tibetan resources, China's fear of foreign powers and its stability fuels the struggle between Tibet and China.  The earliest interactions between Tibet and China occurred in the 7th century during which Tibet was a considerably powerful force, being able to conquer the Chinese city, Chang' an.  (Han 2). After a brief struggle between the two powers, both powers signed a treaty which stated, "'...the whole region to the east of Daduhe is the country of Great China and the whole region to the west of Daduhe is surely the country of Great Tibet.'" (Han 2). This treaty affirms China's acknowledgement of Tibet as independent.  In addition, the Dalai Lama has stated, "Tibetans are seeking enough autonomy for Tibet to allow its culture to survive, rather than outright independence.". (Tibetans 1). If China merely wanted Tibet for economic exploitation, they could easily exploit Tibet while still granting them autonomy, appeasing Tibetans.  

Despite the fact that China actually acknowledged Tibet as independent and Tibet could be appeased and exploited simultaneously, China continues to pursue the struggle out of fear and insecurity.  China was a massive political power throughout history, until the early 1800s.   Once England began to exert its influence in China, China's power diminished dramatically. Thus, China was exploited by England during and after the opium wars and later by Japan during World War II. (Stokes 3).  After a century of exploitation, China regained power and Tibet's resistance of China is viewed as a potential danger to that power.  Thus, China desires complete subordination of Tibet to display its power to other nations.

While China claims Tibet as Chinese territory and uses Tibet for its natural resources, the struggle between Tibet and China stem from China's insecurities and fear of invasion.  A treaty signed by China and Tibet in the 8th century recognizes Tibet as independent from China.  In addition, Tibet has declared it only desires autonomy, which China could use to justify its exploitation of Tibetan resources.  Both these circumstances support Tibetan autonomy, yet China continues the struggle. China suffered severe humiliation and exploitation by foreign powers and now that it has reclaimed power, Tibet's resistance challenges China's power. Thus, China refuses to acknowledge Tibet as an independent nation out of fear of being exploited by foreign powers.

Han, I. A Study of Tibetan-Chinese Political Relations 1950-2008. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://total05.enetworks.jp/assets/files/d-kiyou/01-han.pdf>.

Stokes, Dustin. "Conflict over Tibet: Core Causes and Possible Solutions." Diss. University of Colorado, 2010. Beyond Intractability. The Beyond Intractability Project, 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://beyondintractability.colorado.edu/case_studies/conflict_over_tibet.jsp?nid=6830.

Tibetans Not for Outright Independence from China: Dalai Lama." The Times of India. 29 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2012. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Tibetans-not-for-outright-independence-from-China-Dalai-Lama/articleshow/12918084.cms>.

China's Oppression of Tibet - History Blog 1

by Victoria Rosenthal

The hostility between Tibet and China from 1945-2012 is mainly a result of the oppressive Chinese government’s rejection of Tibet’s sovereignty, they’re communist views opposing religion, and they’re demand for the natural resources found in Tibet. This constant feud has lasted for so many years because the Chinese government views Tibet as a vital territory of their country. Although Tibet had ruled in autonomy for centuries after the Manchu dynasty usurped control of the Great Khanate from the Qing dynasty in 1912 and a number of countries, including the United States, view it as an independent nation, the Chinese refuses to abdicate its control over Tibet because this region continued to be recognized as a territory of China. According to Nina Rastogi, in the mid-1940s, “both Sun Yat-sen's Nationalists and their rivals, Mao Zedong's Communists, believed that Tibet remained fundamentally a part of China and felt a strong nationalistic drive to return the country to its Qing-era borders.”

When Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party took control of China in 1945, he imposed his communist views upon the nation and all of the territories considered to be under Chinese rule, including Tibet. Due to their strong view of religion as a threat to the government, the Chinese government has limited the practice of Buddhism within Tibet. In order to prevent the Tibetans from practicing their religion, the government razed almost all of the Buddhist monasteries, nunneries, and monuments within Tibet. As a result, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet to protect himself from the Chinese authorities, many monks have committed suicide in honor of their religion, and many protests and revolts have broken out, such as the recent protest of monks in 2008.

Also, the Chinese government will not allow Tibet to be an independent country because they are interested in their natural resources of water and minerals. These resources are exploited in order to sustain China’s massive population and growing economy. China’s shortage of water caused by the increasingly large population and overuse of the land has caused China to turn to Tibet’s water resources to sustain the nation. “Each year China uses 40 billion cubic meters of water —five to seven times the amount used in Southern California— more than its resources can sustain (Jeffrey Hays).”Also, the natural minerals taken from Tibet are used to enhance China’s growing economy. “China is on its way to becoming self-sufficient and ultimately one of the world's major exporters of commodities, as vast new mineral deposits are discovered (David Eimer).”

Eimer, David. "China and Britain Ready to Exploit China's Natural Resources." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 27 July 2008. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/2793852/China-and-Britain-ready-to-exploit-Tibets-natural-resources.html#disqus_thread>.

Rastogi, Nina. "Plus, When Are Monks Allowed to Get Violent?" Slate Magazine. The Slate Group, 28 Mar. 2008. Web. 05 May 2012. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/03/why_does_china_care_about_tibet.html>.

Hays, Jeffrey. "Facts and Details." WATER SHORTAGES IN CHINA. Apr. 2008. Web. 06 May 2012. <http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=390>.