China's President Xi Jinping journeys to Tibet to commemorate six decades of disputed ruling in the region.
In a dramatic turn of events, exiled Tibetans staged protests in India on Tuesday, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the country. The demonstrations were a response to Wang Yi's visit, which marked a significant diplomatic event between the two nations.
The unrest in India is not a new phenomenon. Tibet, a region that China claims to have been part of its territory for centuries, has been a subject of controversy for many years. Decades ago, Mao Zedong's single-party dictatorship established the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965, following which political repression became rampant. Monasteries were demolished, and monks were imprisoned, according to records.
China, however, asserts that it has reduced poverty and built up the region's infrastructure. This claim is echoed by the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who visited Tibet on Wednesday, urging the development of a modern socialist Tibet. Xi Jinping received a warm welcome in Lhasa, Tibet's regional capital.
Tibetans, on the other hand, argue that they were essentially independent for most of the time under their Buddhist theocracy. Many Tibetans believe they were occupied by China in 1951, a claim that China does not acknowledge. Since then, a large-scale migration of majority Han Chinese to Tibet has occurred, a fact that has fuelled the ongoing tension.
Critics claim that repression in Tibet has become more systematic and wide-reaching since the crushing of anti-government protests in 2008. One of the most controversial practices is the removal of Tibetan children from their families and their subsequent education in Mandarin-speaking boarding schools.
A contentious issue that continues to divide both sides is the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. China insists on the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama, a claim that the current Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile in India since 1959, vehemently opposes. The Dalai Lama, who holds a position as the religious leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has advocated for Tibetan autonomy and criticized Beijing's policies in Tibet.
China's border with India runs along Tibet's southern edge, making the region strategically important. In recent years, China has been building roads and other infrastructure in the border region, leading to speculation about potential military use.
The Associated Press is the source of this information. The region remains virtually closed to journalists and foreigners, making it difficult to verify the exact circumstances on the ground.
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