The Liberation of Tibet and the end of an Era for China

Tibet was a free nation, able to do whatever it wanted, able to practice any religion it saw fit. Tibet was a nation called the “roof of the world” [1], home to many mountains including the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.  Tibet was independent, oblivious to the little contact they had outside Tibet. In 1949 this would all change. Tibet would no longer be independent from everyone else in the world. On October first 1949 Mao Tse-Tung, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, proclaimed the Peoples Republic of China [1]. His plan to liberate Tibet and Taiwan were ambitious but he had the necessary resources to back them up. His plan was for better china in ten years, a better place for the Chinese people. He did not care about the Tibetan people; they were just statistics on a piece of paper. In 1952 China took the Peoples liberation army through the marshes and swamps of china. Finally arriving in Tibet, Mao Proclaimed Tibet liberated from imperialists. One imperialist still remained in Tibet however, That imperialist was Mao Himself.

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.

-          Dalai Lama[3]

Mao was the creator of many views and ideas, unlike many other people before him his views were shared with all people and many agreed with him. Enough of these views were so different they were all combined into a subtype, Maoism.  His ideas were extremely different from others proposed for that time and were probably too advanced for the time period in which he led China. His rule had become a long one beginning in July of 1921 with the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Mao was a distinguished person in many ways and his difference preventing him from becoming just another person. During the beginning of his life Mao became a notable and influential person swaying many to his visions of Maoism. Mao was also very influenced by a man named Karl Marx. Marx was a communist advocate who worked with the working class to establish improvements to communism. Marx had many ideas but few of them were useful without further adaptation.

From 1911 to 1950 Tibet had successfully been able to avoid contact from other nations acting like an independent country [1]. During his life, the 13th Dalai Lama had worked to emphasize the nation’s independence by increasing its defenses. All of the nations that Tibet maintained a relationship with recognized its independence and Britain went as far as to organize the Simla Convention in 1914 for negotiations between China and Tibet concerning the future of the country [1]. The Chinese did not accept the terms proposed during this conference. This further alienated the two countries and their relationship became much worse [1].

In 1933 the 13th Dalai Lama died and renewed attempts to negotiate with China failed [1]. Meanwhile the Chinese Communist party led by Mao was beginning to gain power in China. Tibet remained neutral throughout World War two, not allowing either American or Chinese military to transport weapons or troops through Tibet [1]. Further attempts to negotiate terms with China were delayed by the war [1]. The Communist Party led by Mao was now a huge threat to the government of China, this delayed negotiations even more than they were already delayed then.

On October 1st Mao overcame the Chinese government and declared the Peoples Republic of China. This event largely affected the Chinese-Tibet relationship, especially when Mao announced his plans to liberate Tibet and Taiwan from Imperialists. Mao announced that Tibet had always been a part of China and declined any negotiations with Tibet about its future [1].  Tibet was unprepared to deal with this new threat. It had been a generally peace loving country, its army was ill equipped and was unready to stand up to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) [1].

In October of 1950 China declared war on Tibet. Shortly afterward 40,000 members of the PLA crossed over the boarder of Tibet and eliminated the Tibetan Army on the eastern border and continued on towards the capital of Tibet, Lhasa [1].

“This is the worst period in our 2000 year history. This really is the most serious period. At this time, now, there is every danger that the entire Tibetan Nation, with its own unique cultural heritage will completely disappear. The present situation is so serious that it is really a question of life and death. If death occurs, nothing is left.”

-Dalai Lama [2]

Tibet was threatened with more attacks and so there was no more way the Tibetans could keep fighting. Tibet’s only option was to negotiate with China. This negotiation resulted in the seventeen point agreement that gave Mao control of Tibet while preserving Tibet’s governmental system. It also kept Tibet from allowing imperialists to reside in Tibet.  However during the 1954 China changed its policy, allowing Mao complete control of the government.

In April of 1954 China signed the Sino-Indian Agreement in which India publicly supported China and its control over Tibet. Now that the remaining country that had sided with Tibet had switched sides Tibet was left to face Mao alone [1].

During the next few years living conditions in Tibet would get worse and Mao would become more and more powerful in that area. People were restricted from carrying guns, monasteries were bombed, taxes were imposed on them, and they were stripped of rights such as the freedom of speech. This led to a revolution in eastern Tibet which the Chinese responded to by bombing more monasteries. The Chinese thought that the monasteries were the source of the rebellion. After this the Dalai Lama attempted to negotiate with Mao but Mao refused. The Dalai Lama left Tibet in Exile.  

Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed.

-          Mao Tse-Tung[3]

In 1959 the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) was established. During the time this existed many things happened to the people in Tibet that had never happened before. The Chinese replaced the government with a military based government headed by the second in command, the Panchen Lama. Many Tibetans were executed, forced into labor camps or imprisoned. As the Cultural Revolution swept through China things worsened. Tibet pleaded to the UN for help but the UN refused because Tibet was not an official member [1].

What can we learn from Mao’s decision to invade Tibet? We can learn that you can pursue your dreams at ease, but to help others while doing so is hard. Our dreams can be our source of power but to others, our dreams should be kept dreams. Mao’s dream was to make China great, he did make China great, but with a price tag that was almost too high. Tibet was the beginning of Mao’s Era, to follow would be the Cultural Revolution and many other attempts like the “Great Leap Forward”.  Today people are still trying to sort out the conflict between China and Tibet. Though Mao had died his dreams did not go with him. Mao’s dreams for better China still remain and the dreams of peace still are in Tibetan minds. Though Mao had the interests of China at heart, he did not seem to know what was best for the country in the short term. Mao was an unbelievable leader during his era but he was blind to what he needed to see. He needed to see the consequences of his dreams.

Once all struggles are grasped, miracles are possible.

-          Mao Tse-Tung[3]

[1] “Studying the Tibetan Conflict.” Free Essay. 18 DEC 2008. Echeat. 11 Mar 2009

<http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=32067>.

[2] “Brief History of Tibet.” Friends of Tibet. Friends of Tibet. 11 Mar 2009

<http://www.friends-of-tibet.org.nz/tibet.html>.

[3] Brainy Quote. Brainy Quote. 11 Mar 2009 <http://www.brainyquote.com>.