Causes of Ethnic Conflict in Tibet China

Presently the Tibet culture is under threat from the increased Chinese immigration and the strict control of the culture’s expressions and national identity. Thesis This paper explores the relationship that has existed between the Tibetans and the Chinese government for the past years in addition to what is currently going on between the two. Its structure is as follows. First, it starts by outlining the literature behind the major causes of the China-Tibet conflict. In this section, the history of the ethnic conflict is discussed followed by the major causes of the conflict. ii. This launch significantly interfered with the centuries of independent nationhood based on the Tibet’s perspective. This was contrary to the Chinese, as they believed that they are only restoring the control of their sovereignty territory that had been taken from them in the past century of precipitating and foreign imperialism and civil war.

iii. Then in 1959, Tibetan revolution, which was partly violent and non-violent greatly enthused and led by the CIA, was violently squashed by the Chinese. History and diverse views as to whether Tibet is a historically sovereign nation serves as the major cause of the conflict. Tibetans views reveal that Tibet is an independent nation. Mongolian rule over Tibet enabled the religion to remain independent until 1950 when the Chinese invasion occurred. ii. Chinese on the other hand, believe that Tibetans are under their rule. Tibet’s independence could stimulate other succession movements like Taiwan, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. ii. These regions form the Chinese sense of identity. Moreover, the Chinese regard the Dalai Lama as ‘’splittist’’ that could enhance ‘’colour revolutions’’ in the entire china.

iii. The main frustration for the Tibetans greatly originates from the fact that improvement of the Tibetans’ standards of living mostly benefits the ethnic Han Chinese immigrants into Tibet. Additionally, the Han immigration enhanced by the government via tax incentives also undermines the Tibet’s cultural, religious and political freedom. 0 Explanation of the independent variable i. From the above-discussed causes, Chinese security and sovereignty concerns have been identified by most authors to be behind the increase in the ethnic conflict between the Chinese and the Tibetans. ii. Data was collected over the internet from the Chinese who were mostly affected by the conflict. Results and analysis i. Most of the participants in the research stated that Chinese security and sovereignty is the major core cause of the conflict.