A leader in exile. Children forced into cultural assimilation. A barrage of failed protests. For more than 50 years, China, a global superpower with a population over 400 times that of Tibet, has occupied this small region. Since 1950, Tibet and China have lived in an uneasy balance. However, recent reports have shown exacerbated tensions between the two regions, as Tibetans have accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of severely restricting the practice of Tibetan traditions, including Buddhism.
The Tumultuous Ties Between Tibet and China
For centuries, Tibet and China co-existed in Central Asia—each as a distinct nation with individual culture and history. China’s historical records and treaties demonstrate that China forged equal partnerships with its strong neighbor, Tibet, as early as 2,000 years ago. In 1913, the 13th Dalai Lama, who served as Tibet’s political and spiritual leader, officially proclaimed the nation’s independence, stating, “We are a small, religious, and independent nation.” The nation had a theocratic government of which the Dalai Lama was the supreme religious and temporal head. With social security systems such as the provision of medical assistance to expecting mothers or care for the elderly, Tibet was a place of rich culture, art, and education.
However, in 1950, the newly established CCP launched an invasion of Tibet to incorporate it into the People’s Republic of China. By seizing Tibet, China gained access to a multitude of rich natural resources and easier access to the strategically significant Indian border. Facing almost 40,000 Chinese troops, the young Dalai Lama was forced to recognize China’s rule in return for loose promises that the CCP would protect Tibet’s religious and political system. The CCP never kept these promises, and on March 10, 1959, hundreds of thousands of Tibetans surrounded the Potala Palace in Lhasa to protest Chinese government occupation, marking the beginning of an ongoing Tibetan resistance. The CCP swiftly suppressed the uprising, and the then-14th Dalai Lama was forced to flee in disguise, dressing himself in a Chinese uniform and escaping on foot with his family members and ministers.
Persistent Protests: The Struggle for Tibetan Freedom
Tibetans have been protesting China’s presence in the country since 1959. However, in recent years, protests have gained momentum and prominence as the international community becomes increasingly aware of the CCP’s actions. In March 2008, on the 49th anniversary of the National Uprising Day, hundreds of Tibetan monks gathered in Lhasa to protest Beijing's rule and advocate for the release of fellow Drepung monks, who protestors claimed were previously detained. The protests and violence escalated throughout the week, and by the end, human rights groups claimed that more than 140 people had died, although Chinese authorities put the figure closer to 22 deaths. April 2008, during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, was another milestone in protests, as thousands gathered on the streets of San Francisco, California. Protests in Tibet mirrored those in San Francisco: thirty Tibetan protesters were convicted of arson, robbery, and attacking government offices related to the March violence. They received prison sentences ranging from three years to life. Hundreds of Tibetans have been imprisoned or outright killed by the CCP, while further deaths have resulted from self-immolation as a form of protest. Since 2009, 159 Tibetans have self-immolated, including 127 deaths and 26 minors under the age of 18.
Some changes in Chinese leadership led to periods of greater leniency. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping succeeded Mao Zedong after his death, and the government appeared to acknowledge past errors. Throughout the next decade, many Tibetan religious and traditional customs were allowed again. Tibetans were allowed to assume positions of social status, obtain a university education, study the newly acknowledged Tibetan culture, travel abroad, and even travel to India to meet the Dalai Lama. Deng Xiaoping even invited Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama, to the capital to discuss greater partnership between the two regions—although full independence was still not discussed. Letters between leaders also indicate relatively amicable discussions. Crucially, during this time period, tourism flourished, with over 43,500 foreigners visiting Tibet in 1987 and spending more than US$15 million within the nation.
However, these small advances did not alter China’s overall power in Tibet, and in 1987, protests reemerged. The demonstrations continued until 1989 and led to troops from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army imposing checkpoints every few meters throughout Lhasa. The Chinese government declared martial law for 13 months, and CCTV footage leaked internationally displayed Chinese brutality.
Global Outcry and Growing Support
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2024 annual report, published on May 1, 2024, revealed a lack of religious freedom in Tibet due to the CCP’s growing suppression of Tibetan Buddhism. These restrictions are part of broader Sinicization efforts by the CCP government. In the past, “Sinicization” has referred to the concept of making something more Chinese in character. However, over the past few years, Sinicization has developed a secondary meaning referring to Chinese efforts to impose increased surveillance and security measures on Tibetan Buddhists. These measures restrict peaceful religious activities, including rituals and spiritual practices such as mantras and yogic techniques. Authorities have arrested and imprisoned Tibetan Buddhists for engaging in behaviors related to the Dalai Lama, with some Tibetan Buddhist monks dying in prison.
The CCP has also forced the separation of over one million Tibetan children from their families to attend state-run boarding schools. Tibetans have called these institutions “colonial boarding schools,” designed to cultivate loyalty to the CCP and deny the children the opportunity to continue practicing their cultural traditions. The US commission recommended the US State Department designate China as one of the current 17 countries with “country of particular concern” (CPC) status regarding religious freedom violations. It also identified the Chinese government’s “Sinicization of Religion” policy as a significant factor in the deterioration of religious freedom. The report stated that “Sinicization requires groups to follow the CCP’s Marxist interpretation of religion, including by altering religious scriptures and doctrines to conform to that interpretation.”
The US Congress has also stepped into the conflict; a month after Senate approval, the House voted on June 12, 2024 to pass a bill, the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, urging China to mend ties with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders. The legislation allows State Department officials to “actively and directly” counter disinformation about Tibet spread by the Chinese government, particularly claims that China has encompassed Tibet since “ancient times.” President Biden signed this Act into law on July 12, 2024.
Tibetan Voices: Calls for Identity and Freedom
Calls from Tibetans have remained the same for decades: the protection of Tibetan identity, freedom, and human rights and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Though in exile in India, the 14th Dalai Lama has established a democratic government, or the Central Tibetan Administration, which advocates for greater freedom and rights for Tibet, termed the “Middle Way Approach.” For 63 years, the democratic government-in-exile has endured in the foothills of the Himalayas. Alongside the Dalai Lama, the parliament is ruled by Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, their elected leader. Although exiled, the government still aims to rule with democratic transparency and fairness, posting announcements and news on its website and keeping interested parties globally up-to-date on parliamentary sessions. The parliament-in-exile even meets with global leaders, such as former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other US legislators and European Parliament members.
However, within the community of Tibetan exiles, there are two factions: those who simply ask for Tibet to remain a part of the People’s Republic of China but with greater control over its own affairs (the “Middle Way Approach”) and those who push for complete independence from China (“Rangzen”). From July 13th to 15th, 2024, the 7th International Rangzen Conference dedicated to Tibet’s complete independence from China was held in Toronto, Canada. With over 250 delegates from around the world, the conference expressed a lack of trust for the Chinese government and condemned recent educational suppression techniques employed by the CCP. The rhetoric of the speakers was fairly assertive, with Rangzen claimed as a “birth right” and discussions on “[countering] China not just by vocalising…demands or organising protests, but by understanding the political landscape within China and its relations with other countries.” Ultimately, internal turmoil persists in determining the best solution.
Differing from more violent secessionist movements in other countries, the Tibetan independence movement primarily takes a spiritual approach. This movement looks to the Dalai Lama as an influential freedom advocate who still spends his day “meditating on the roots of compassion and what he can do for his people.” Although the man himself retired as a political leader in 2011, his values—introspection, meditation, spirituality, and peace—are still at the core of the movement. Indeed, despite initial violent uprisings met with suppression by Chinese authorities, the resistance movement in Tibet has been relatively peaceful. It remains to be seen whether this movement will achieve Tibetan sovereignty, finally reuniting the parliament and Dalai Lama with the Tibetan people.
