Studying the Tibetan Conflict
Studying the Tibetan Conflict
1949, the country known as the “roof of the world”, Tibet, was an independent nation that had little contact with the outside world. Tibetan Buddhism played a central role in the people’s lives as they lived happily with their own unique culture. But their way of living would soon change when the Chinese planned a full-scale military invasion and announced they would “liberate Tibet from all foreign imperialists.” From that moment, all hell would break loose and feeling of fear, pain, and the question of why would forever stay with the people of Tibet.
From 1911 through 1950, Tibet avoided all influences from foreign countries and behaved as an independent state. The 13th Dalai Lama emphasized his country’s independence by issuing a proclamation and strengthening their defenses. Most foreign governments with whom Tibet maintained a relationship with recognized Tibet’s independent status (“History of Tibet…”). Britain supported by organizing the Simla Convention in 1914 for negotiations between China and Tibet concerning the future of the country. The Chinese did not accept the terms and they refused to sign the formal agreement, therefore the opposing countries’ relationship remained unanswered (Kizilos 42).
Problems arose between the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama in 1922 when the Panchen Lama refused to pay taxes to support Tibet’s military. This resulted in him fleeing to China. When he asked Britain to mediate the dispute, they refused for they did not want to interfere with Tibetan affairs. Because of this, he remained in China for 14 years. In 1933, the 13th Dalai Lama died and renewed attempts to negotiate with China failed (Kizilos 43). A search party of Tibetan monks found the new Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in 1939 and was enthroned in Lhasa in 1940. Since he was not yet the necessary age to take up the reins of the government, Tibet was governed by a regency (Farrer-Halls 28).
Despite all the pressures of World War II, Tibet remained neutral and refused permission for the Americans and the Chinese nationalists to transport military supplies through their land. China and Tibet had yet to resolve their differences and the war delayed any serious efforts, but meanwhile, a threat to the Chinese government was underway. A communist movement, lead by Mao Zedong, was gaining popularity. The Tibetans sympathized for the difficulties...