Image Courtesy: Nikkei Asia
Article: 32/2024
Through the advancement of technology, the dissemination of information has reached unprecedented levels. The popular phrase "at the tip of one’s fingertips" aptly describes the easy availability of unfiltered information. Many countries, especially hegemons, have used this to spread their own narratives, including the British Empire, Hitler’s Third Reich, the USA, and, more recently, the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The PRC was established in 1949 after the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by Mao Zedong, won the civil war against the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) led by Chiang Kai-shek. Mao Zedong announced the PRC’s territorial claims, which included Tibet, East Turkestan, and Southern Mongolia, during his famous "The Chinese People Have Stood Up" address on September 21 at the 1st Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. This showcased a meticulous plan for occupying these independent nations and territories through the tactful usage of information warfare.
In 1950, Beijing among other things used the 10th Panchen Lama’s scripted cry for help to invade Tibet, which includes the three traditional provinces of Amdo, Kham, and U-Tsang. And finally, in 1951, Tibetans signed the 17th Point Agreement with the PRC under duress, leading to its occupation. The day of the signing of this agreement has been declared by the PRC as the day it officially "liberated" Tibet, when in fact it symbolizes the day Tibet was occupied by the PRC. These early actions of the PRC under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, which had established the United Front Work Department to spread its influence and narrative beyond Chinese soil, demonstrates its modus operandi to promote its agenda. When it comes to Tibet, the situation is no different. In this context, I present certain themes and subjects regarding Tibet that the PRC has misrepresented through false narratives.
1. Tibet: A Rich History Misrepresented as Just a Part of China
The PRC, led by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), various state-run media outlets, recent YouTube influencers, and even leaders of nations (including the Taliban leaders promoting and praising Chinese state-run colonial boarding schools), have utilized a plethora of disinformation to build the narrative that Tibet is part of its territory and has not been an independent nation throughout history.
This claim is false, as Tibet was historically an independent nation and even conquered large swathes of territory, of what is now Chinese territory during the period of the Tibetan Empire, which flourished under King Songtsen Gampo from the 7th century onward. This clearly dispels the PRC's notion that Tibet was not a nation but part of China throughout history.
Furthermore, to adapt to and embrace the modern concept of Westphalian nation-states, Tibet reaffirmed its independence in 1913 under the leadership of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso. This illustrates that Tibet not only constituted a Westphalian nation-state, meeting the essential criteria of 1. a shared national identity, 2. physical borders, and 3. a single government, but was also a nation-state even before the PRC was established in 1949.
The recent US ‘Resolve Tibet Act’ further debunks the PRC's claims, with extensive research from Chinese sources by Prof. Hon-Shiang Lau showing that Tibet was never part of the PRC or previous Chinese entities.
2. Is Tibet Truly Liberated from Serfdom, or Is It a Myth?
Another major campaign that the PRC promotes for its political legitimacy over Tibet is the notion of Tibet's liberation, emphasizing the eradication of serfdom following its arrival in the region. This campaign is so entrenched that the now-repudiated 17 Point Agreement, signed under duress by Tibetan officials on May 23, 1951, is still celebrated as the so-called "Peaceful Liberation of Tibet." This agreement marked the first time in history that Tibet officially recognized itself as a province of China.
Each year, this day is celebrated with much pomp by the CCP leadership in occupied Tibet, showcasing how they have "liberated" Tibet from serfdom. This concept is deeply entrenched in communism and Marxism, first articulated by Karl Marx when he researched the political economy of the Western world of his time. However, one misses how Beijing presents only one narrative, using synecdoche to vilify the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government by claiming they had "slaves," when in fact these so-called slaves were workers compensated for their services. If there was any form of serfdom in Tibet's history, it is the current system—where Tibetans are heavily oppressed by the very communist leaders who control them—that resembles serfdom, with Tibetans entirely under Beijing's control.
This notion of serfdom and liberation has become a tool used by the "50 Cent Army" (internet commentators paid by the PRC to spread their narrative) to disseminate information on public platforms. This influence is now more visible than ever. Whole white papers on Tibet repeatedly mention the so-called liberation of Tibet from serfdom while failing to address the atrocities of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution in Tibet. If Tibetans were truly liberated, why do they continue to engage in the ultimate form of non-violent protest: self-immolation?
3. Divided Lands: The Fragmentation of Tibetan Territories
This action has been one of the most successful policies by the PRC in diminishing Tibet's status as an independent nation-state in the minds of the broader public and governmental policymakers.
In 1965, the PRC officially established the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), which is only a portion of Tibet that the Tibetans claim and where they lived and flourished prior to the PRC's illegal occupation by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). For Beijing, this region is considered Tibet, and it continues to remain so officially, despite contradicting the legitimate claims of Tibetans living in the traditional provinces of Amdo and Kham. The TAR largely encompasses the entire U-Tsang province, with some parts of Kham included as well. The current 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in Taktser, Amdo, which is not part of the TAR. Additionally, Andrug Gompo Tashi, the leader of the Tibetan resistance force Chushi Gangdruk and the National Volunteer Defense Army (NVDA), was born in Lithang, Kham, which is also outside the TAR.
Hence, the intended plan to remove and erase Tibetan territories from official maps by labelling them as Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures—despite lying within the official borders of Tibet and China—is a tactical masterclass that many nations have unfortunately accepted. The 2003 India-China joint communiqué stated that “the Indian side recognizes that the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of the territory of the People's Republic of China,” reflecting a similar stance taken by other nations, including the USA, which viewed Tibet primarily in terms of the TAR then.
However, there is pushback from the international community, including the USA, which explicitly mentioned in the recent "Resolve Tibet Act" that Tibet as a territory is not limited to the TAR but includes areas designated as Tibetan Autonomous by the PRC as of 2018. And also from India with its Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly wishing the Dalai Lama on his birthday, with many even speculating a possible public official meeting between the two leaders. This marks the first time that a government officially refers to Tibet as encompassing the three traditional provinces, using Beijing’s own narrative against them regarding Tibetan territory.
4. From Borders to Schools: The Hidden Costs of Colonial Aggression
If the PRC had legitimacy over Tibet as a sovereign entity, why does it treat the region differently? More importantly, why does it suppress the Tibetan people through severe surveillance, transnational aggressions, and colonial boarding schools? All of these factors contribute to a dystopian world reminiscent of the one George Orwell envisioned in his famous book, 1984.
Firstly, internal suppression is well-documented, and several protests continue to take place in Tibet despite the heavy restrictions imposed since the PRC's illegal occupation. Notable examples include the 1956 Eastern Tibetan Rebellion, the 1959 Tibetan Mass Uprising, the 1987 Tibet Protest, and the 2008 Tibet Protest. Recent testimony from Tibetan political prisoner Namkyi illustrates the situation in Tibet, where individuals cannot hold a picture of the Dalai Lama without facing imprisonment—often unjustly and for no reason at all.
Secondly, we see a rise in transnational aggression as Beijing uses Tibetan family members in Tibet as a tool to pressure and threaten Tibetans living abroad—whether as exiles, refugees, part of the larger Tibetan diaspora, or even citizens of free countries. In February 2024, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) released a report titled "Chinese Transnational Repression of Tibetan Diaspora Communities," highlighting this very tactic that Beijing continues to employ. This approach has been used not only against Tibetans but also against those under their governance, including Han Chinese.
Thirdly, the issue of colonial boarding schools has been exposed by the Tibet Action Institute. One of the main whistleblowers, Dr. Gyal Lo, emphasizes how Beijing, after implementing various tactics to gain legitimacy in Tibet, is now targeting Tibetan children. In these schools, Tibetan parents are forced to send their children, who are not being taught Tibetan; when Tibetan is taught, the syllabus is structured in such a way that little essence of Tibet remains. One example given by Dr. Gyal Lo is that textbooks in these schools teach Tibetan children that the Japanese are their enemies, despite the fact that Tibet and Japan never had any major conflicts in the past. In fact, a Japanese general, under the guidance and vision of the 13th Dalai Lama, established the first modern Tibetan army in the early 20th century.
Hence, through these actions, we can understand how Beijing, knowing that it does not have clear legitimacy among the Tibetan people, is pursuing such repressive policies to control and gain legitimacy by force, even if it means harming Tibetans.
5. Spiritual Suppression: The Fight Over the Dalai Lama's Lineage:
The PRC was established in 1949 and it continues to be led by the CCP. The CCP does not believe in religion, with Mao Zedong famously stating that "Religion is Poison," to the Dalai Lama, echoing the Marxist adage that "Religion is the opium of the masses." He and his party followed this up by destroying religion, including the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism on a grand scale during the Cultural Revolution, an event unparalleled in history.
Tsering Woeser’s book “Forbidden Memory: Tibet during the Cultural Revolution” employs powerful images, detailed interviews, and critical analysis to illuminate what actually occurred during that period and how thousands of monasteries and religious sites in Tibet were ravaged to the ground.
In 2007, Beijing issued Order Number 5 and subsequent orders to control the Tibetan reincarnated lamas, whom they call "living Buddhas." This policy has forced reincarnated lamas - who hold significant respect and reverence among Tibetans - to seek permission from CCP leaders, who officially do not believe in religion or Buddhism, for their status. The centuries-old tradition of reincarnation has now been reduced to a bureaucratic process, with many using this system to bribe Chinese officials and declare their own reincarnated lamas. Consequently, the number of recognized reincarnated lamas has drastically increased since the inception of this order.
Amidst such conditions, they seek to recognize and claim sole authority over the succession of the Dalai Lama. This irony would make Shakespeare himself proud, provoking laughter from the audience. However, it is widely known that Beijing plans to install their own Dalai Lama, with the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama already setting a precedent for this. It is crucial to recognize and support the traditional process of reincarnation, as the Dalai Lama himself frequently states that if he were to reincarnate, he would be born in a free country - implicitly marking/cancelling occupied Tibet (under current system unless it becomes free), which continues to hold the unfortunate title of being one of the least free countries in the world.
Conclusion:
The signing of the ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’ into law by US President Joe Biden on July 12th is a significant step for towards Tibetans right of Self-Determination, with the USA once again taking a stand on Tibet’s status while competing with China. A particular section of this law mentions how the US will work towards combating disinformation campaigns by the PRC on Tibet.
The recent visit of a US Congressional delegation to Dharamshala, where they met the Dalai Lama and leaders of the Tibetan Government in Exile, followed by a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, suggests visible progress is being made in the Tibetan freedom movement. With former Indian Ambassador Dilip Sinha stating “India should continue to support the Tibetan cause and bury China’s narrative on Tibet.”
It has been more than six decades since Tibetans, including their leader the Dalai Lama, were forced to flee their own country. The majority of Tibetans continue to live under Chinese occupation, but as the world gradually awakens to this issue, the experiences of Tibetans become invaluable for understanding Beijing and navigating the challenges ahead, including the tactics and information warfare strategies it has employed and continues to use against Tibet. As the saying goes, to understand the People’s Republic of China, one must understand Tibet.
(Tenzing Dhamdul, Research Associate Foundation for Non-violent Alternatives (FNVA). The views expressed are those of the author and does not reflect the views of C3S.)
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