Focus: GS-II International Relations
Why in news?
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for building a “new modern socialist” Tibet, constructing an “impregnable wall” against separatism in the sensitive Himalayan region and “sinicisation” of the Tibetan Buddhism.
Details
- The Chinese President in his address to the seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work, said that efforts must be made to build Tibet that is united, prosperous, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.
- Underlining the need to fully implement the CPC’s policies on governing Tibet for a new era, the Chinese President called for efforts to build a “new modern socialist” Tibet.
Background
- Tibet, officially referred to as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), remained deeply devoted to Buddhism where the Dalai Lama is revered as the spiritual head despite his self-exile to India since 1959 after China took control of the region in 1950.
- It also shares borders with India, Bhutan and Nepal.
- While Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and “splittist” who seeks to split Tibet from China, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate says he only seeks greater rights for Tibetans, including religious freedom and autonomy.
- The 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 following a crackdown on an uprising by the local population in Tibet.
- India granted him political asylum and the Tibetan government-in-exile is based on Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh since then.
- Since 1959, Tibet has been witnessing periodic incidents of violence, unrest and protest against Beijing.
- China asserts that Tibet has been its part since the 13th century and will remain so forever.
