The Tibet-China Conflict
Recently, Uzra Zeya, the US Special Coordinator on Tibet met with the leader of the Sikyong or self-styled Central Tibetan Administration, Penpa Tsering, and other officials and representatives of the Tibetan community.
This meeting is also being seen as a strong message from the Indian government to China.
Because any outside interference by China in ‘Tibet’ related matters has been opposed, and this visit of the US Special Coordinator was facilitated by New Delhi.
It is to be known that there are more than 1 lakh Tibetans settled all over India.
Location of Tibet:
- Tibet is a landmass of about 4 million km on the Tibetan Plateau in Asia, and in size it is about a quarter of the total area of China.
- It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan population as well as some other ethnic groups.
China’s right over Tibet?
- As claimed by the People’s Republic of China, Tibet has been a part of China since the Yuan dynasty led by the Mongols.
- In 1951, Tibetan leaders were forced to sign a treaty directed by China.
- The treaty is known as the “Seventeen Point Agreement” and promised to guarantee Tibetan autonomy and respect Buddhism, but at the same time, it included Chinese civilian and military forces in ‘Lhasa’ (the capital of Tibet). Provision has also been made for the establishment of Headquarters.
- However, the Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, consider the treaty to be ‘invalid’, saying that the treaty was signed under pressure.
- The Chinese occupation of Tibet is often described by the Tibetan people as a ‘cultural genocide’.
Source – The Hindu
