Tibetan sovereignty debate

There are two political debates regarding the relationship between Tibet and China. The first debate concerns whether Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and parts of neighboring provinces that are claimed as political Tibet should separate themselves from China and become a new sovereign state. Many of the points in this political debate rest on the points which are within the second debate, about whether Tibet was independent or subordinate to China during certain periods of its history. China has claimed control over Tibet since the 13th century, though this has been contested. All countries today officially recognize Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China and do not acknowledge it as an independent state. While Tibetan independence advocates argue Tibet had periods of de facto independence, Chinese control was solidified in the 1950s. Today, Tibet is officially designated as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) within the People's Republic of China.[1][2]

It is generally believed that Tibet was independent from China prior to the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368),[3] and Tibet has been governed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 1959.[4]

The nature of Tibet's relationship with China in the intervening period is a matter of debate:

  • The PRC asserts that Tibet has been a part of China since the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.[5]
  • The Republic of China (ROC) asserted that "Tibet was then definitely placed under the sovereignty of China" when the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) ended the brief Nepalese invasion (1788–1792) of parts of Tibet in c. 1793.[6]
  • The Tibetan Government in Exile asserts that Tibet was an independent state until the PRC invaded Tibet in 1949/1950.[7][8]
  • A number of outside scholars maintain that Tibet and China were ruled by the Mongols during the Yuan dynasty, treating Tibet and China as separate realms under a common rule.[9] Some other regard Tibet as "part of a Mongol-ruled Chinese state".[10] Many scholars maintain that Ming China (1364–1644) possessed no administrative control in Tibet,[11] while some scholars indicated that Imperial Chinese superiority continued after Yuan and lasted until Qing.[12] Tibet was part of the Chinese Empire,[13] or at the very least subordinate to the Manchu-ruled China[14] during much of the Qing dynasty.[15]
  • Many scholars maintain that Tibet, from 1912 to 1951, enjoyed de facto independence[16] with no formal international recognition.[17][18] Others believe that the 1914 Simla Convention formally recognized Chinese suzerainty over Tibet.[19][20]

Presently, the 14th and current Dalai Lama is not in support of Tibetan separatism, and instead has advocated that Tibet should not become independent, however it should strive to be given meaningful autonomy within the People's Republic of China. His approach is known as the "Middle Way" approach in which has been officially adopted by the 4th session of the 12th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies on September 18, 1997.[21][22][23] In 2005, the 14th Dalai Lama emphasized that Tibet is a part of China, and Tibetan culture and Buddhism are part of Chinese culture.[24][25]

  1. ^ "Tibet profile". BBC News. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT letter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Wang & Nyima 1997, p. 20; Sperling 2004, p. 21
  4. ^ Sperling 2004, p. 17; Shakya 1999, p. 90; Latourette 1964, p. 419; Spence 1999, p. 500
  5. ^ Wang & Nyima 1997, p. 20; Grunfeld 1996, p. 256; Sperling 2004, p. 10
  6. ^ Sperling 2004, pp. 6, 7; Goldstein 1989, p. 72. Both cite the ROC's position paper at the 1914 Simla Conference.
  7. ^ Sperling 2004, p. 21
  8. ^ "Five Point Peace Plan". The Dalai Lama. 21 September 1987. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  9. ^ Feigon 1996, p. 58; Gernet 1972, pp. 369, 384; Goldstein 1997, pp. 3, 4
  10. ^ Grunfeld. A.T., Reassessing Tibet policy, Foreign Policy in Focus, 2005
  11. ^ Goldstein 1997, pp. 4, 5; Feigon 1996, pp. 63–64
  12. ^ Petech, Luciano, China and Tibet in the Early 18th Century, 1950, p250
  13. ^ Latourette 1964, p. 253 "an appendage of". Gernet 1972, p. 481 "part of". Goldstein 1989, p. 44 "subordination of Tibet to China".
  14. ^ Sperling 2004, pp. 27–29
  15. ^ Feigon 1996, pp. 86, 88, 90 in contrast, claims that the Qing had little control over Tibet and compares Tibet with the Vatican.
  16. ^ Shakya 1999, p. 4 "independent state", Shakya 1999, p. 90 "international legal status" was "independent state". Feigon 1996, p. 119 "border between the two countries" of China and Tibet in 1917. Goldstein 1997, pp. 30–37, Chapter titled "Interlude: De Facto Independence"; Latourette 1964, p. 333 "practically independent" from 1912, 419 "accepted the suzerainty of the Communists" in 1951.
  17. ^ Clark, Gregory, In Fear of China, Cresett Press, 1968, p38
  18. ^ Bajoria, Jayshree. "The Question of Tibet". www.cfr.org. Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  19. ^ Grunfeld, A. Tom, The Making of Modern Tibet, M.E. Sharpe, 1996 p67, "[In Simla] Tibet gave up territory and switched suzerains from China to Britain. It certainly did not achieve "independence" – unless the state of independence is judged solely by the right to sign treaties with other nations. Moreover, the treaty...put Lhasa on record as being willing to admit to de jure Chinese suzerainty."
  20. ^ Grunfeld, A. Tom, The Making of Modern Tibet, M.E. Sharpe, 1996, p275, n53, "Tibet's independence was so lacking that during one session of the conference, when the Tibetan delegate was ill, Sir Charles Bell represented Tibet."
  21. ^ "Dalai Lama not a 'separatist,' Tibet's exile leader says". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  22. ^ PTI (2017-11-23). "Tibet Wants to Stay With China, Seeks Development: Dalai Lama". TheQuint. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  23. ^ "The Middle-Way Policy – Central Tibetan Administration". 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  24. ^ "Dalai Lama: "Tibet is a Part of the People's Republic of China"". Congressional-Executive Commission on China. 2005-03-15. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
  25. ^ "Tibet part of China: Dalai Lama". The Age. 2005-03-15. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
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