China and Tibet: a Tortuous Relationship, but ignored by World
China and Tibet have had a relationship much longer than India with Tibet. India and Tibet never had any contact for close to 2000 years except for sporadic religious teachers who went from India to Tibet. In contrast Tibet for long periods was either independent or a vassal state of China. China has always claimed Tibet as a part of China and at various periods in history agreed to pay tribute to the Chinese emperor.
India's connection with Tibet started during the days of the British Raj. In 1903/04 the British Governor General authorised an invasion of Tibet to extend British influence. This was based on a fear of Russian expansion in Central Asia. The military expedition led by Brigadier YoungHusband in an arduous campaign occupied Lhasa. The Dalai Lama fled to Sinkiang and the Chinese stripped him of all powers. The British now became the undisputed power in Tibet as China was weak and unable to exert after successive defeats in the 2 Opium wars and the Boxer rebellion.
Tibet now began to function as an independent state and the British recognised Tibet. They forced China to accept the independence of Tibet. The status continued till 1947, when the British left India. For 2 years nothing much happened as the Chinese communist party was embroiled in a civil war with the Nationalists supported by the USA. The civil war was over in 1949 and Mao tse Tung, the Chinese communist party leader proclaimed the Peoples Republic of China. The Nationalists under Chiang Kai Shek escaped to Formosa. Mao was now in control of entire China and Nehru in his zeal was the first to give diplomatic recognition to the Peoples Republic of China.
In a secret address to the central committee of the of the communist party, Mao brought out the fact that Tibet was a part of China and must be "integrated" with the motherland. In 1950 the Chinese army invaded Tibet. Their was some resistance from the Tibet army, but it was both outnumbered and outgunned by the PLA and in a swift operation overran Tibet. Records indicate that Sardar Patel was keen to help Tibet, but he suffered a heart attack and Nehru had his way and allowed China to occupy Tibet.
The presence of the Chinese in Tibet had a deep effect on the psyche of the Tibet people. The Chinese forced them to sign the 17 point agreement of integration with China. This was a one sided agreement and the Tibetan people were put to great hardship. The Dalai Lama was made ineffective and power passed to the Chinese commander of the PLA in Lhasa. The Indian mission was restricted and overall the Chinese began to "educate' the Tibetans in Communist philosophy. This had to have a back lash and a revolt commenced against the Chinese. At that time General Eisenhower the US president was keen to help the Tibet freedom fighters, but Nehru sat on the fence and the Tibet revolt collapsed. The Chinese took a terrible revenge and executed 80,000 Tibetans. Almost a million refugees also fled to India.
In 1956, the Dalai Lama visited Delhi and asked for Indian intervention. He also asked for asylum, but Nehru insisted that he go back. The return of the Dalai Lama led to further repression and the Chinese decided that the time had come to remove the Dalai Lama. In 1959, the local Chinese commander invited the Dalai Lama to witness a play in the military barracks. His body guards were told not to accompany him. This raised doubts in the mind of the Dalai Lama and his cabinet. A decision was taken that he flee to India.
The Dalai Lama fled Lhasa for a 14- day trek to India through the mountains. The Chinese discovered his escape after 2 days, but by then he was well on his way to India.The Chinese exacted a terrible revenge and many guards and Lamas of the Potala palace were executed.
The Dalai Lama reached India and for once Nehru showed some spunk and granted political asylum to the Dalai Lama. Since then, 46 years have elapsed and the Chinese have not allowed the Dalai Lama to set foot in Tibet. They have also changed the demographic composition of Lhasa by settling ethnic Chinese there. Now the Tibetans are in a minority in Lhasa. The Chinese are also settling people from China in other parts of Tibet. The plight of the local Tibetans is pitiable. Not a single government recognises the Tibet government in exile in Dharamshala. Even the USA is wary of antagonising China. I cannot say what will happen in future as China has now claimed Arunachal Pradesh also as for long it was a part of Tibet. By recognising Tibet as a part of China , the Indian government has cut its own feet.
In this entire scenario, India now has a massive Chinese army on its border.Yet the Indian leadership plays politics by lowering the morale of the army by not sanctioning One rank One Pension. What a way to face the Chinese with a army whose morale is becoming lower?
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