The sun obscured by dark clouds: Tibet’s struggle for freedom
In the shadows of the majestic Himalayas, a tale of brutal repression and resistance unfolds. Tibet, a land steeped in spirituality and culture, has long been the centre of international attention due to its constant struggle for freedom. Amidst the calm scenery and rich traditions, a terrible reality lingers: the Chinese government’s continuous repression of Tibetan voices. As Tibetan protests continue on Indian streets, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of security threats as well as human rights violations in the Tibetan region. In this piece, I will explore the same by applying the post-colonial lens while also taking into account the relativity of security, with a focus on the questions of whose security it is, from whom or what, by what means, for what purpose and by which security actor.
The story begins with the Chinese colonisation of Tibetan lands, i.e., when the PLA of China invaded Tibet in the 1950s, claiming it to be its part. Coercing Tibetans to sign the seventeen-point agreement justifying that the agreement will bring “peaceful liberation of Tibet” (Aukatsang, 2021). Under the Chinese occupation of Tibet, they tried to suppress Tibetan cultural, religious, and political autonomy. Chinese government policies try their level best to blend Tibetans into Han culture; they even tried resettling the Han Chinese in Tibetan areas (Gravitas, 2023).
A report by Amnesty International covers how the colonisation of Tibet resulted in a widespread increase in human rights abuses (individual’s security at threat), torture, and repression. So much so that the Tibetans who oppose China's colonial rule would face harsh consequences and torture (Peoples’ Republic of China, 1992). Once we go beyond the tranquility of the Tibetan Plateau's, we tend to realise a sombre reality persists that needs to be unveiled and intermixed with the rising security concerns between India and China, China and Tibet, as well as India and Tibetan refugees in India. The Repression in Tibet 1987–1992 reports human rights abuses against Tibetan minorities. While these minorities were peacefully protesting and supporting Tibet's independence, the PLA imprisoned these protesters, i.e., Buddhist nuns and monks, women, and children. They faced extensive torture, inadequate food, and were kept in cruel detention practices. They were captured, confined to tiny, windowless cells, and tortured brutally (Peoples’ Republic of China, 1992). Chinese claim “peaceful liberation of Tibet” while it's hiding behind a facade of 70 years of Tibetan repression and colonisation. So ultimately, whose security is at stake? Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama, and India's national security lies at stake. For instance, what if a Chinese spy balloon flies over Indian skies? Chinese spies are being arrested trying to spy on the Dalai Lama. Recently, a woman called Song Xiaolam was arrested near Bodh Gaya near Kalachakra, near where Dalai Lama prays (Chinese Woman Suspected of Spying on the Dalai Lama to Be Deported, 2022).
Security from who and what? This question emanates from the Chinese government. The Chinese government uses various policies of political subjugation and cultural suppression to torment the Tibetans. The means by which the Chinese torment the Tibetans is by using torture camps, these camps use coercive measures, surveillance, indoctrination, and brainwashing the youth for their own purposes (Gravitas, 2023). The realist agenda of China incorporates maintaining Chinese territorial integrity, dominance, and control over Tibet by suppressing any kind of act of defiance. This serves the interests of China and its territorial expansion. The security actor involved in enforcing these is the PRC government. It's state-sanctioned violence is used to gain control over Tibet. China’s government policies towards Tibet have included efforts to resettle Han Chinese in Tibetan areas. These policies have been criticized by human rights organizations, for threatening Tibetan culture, autonomy, and human rights (Gravitas, 2023). Tibetans living in India fear that continued Chinese occupation of Tibet poses a great threat to the preservation of Tibetan culture, language and identity. The Tibetan refugees’ protest in Delhi streets has been to urge the Indian government to discuss the Chinese occupation of Tibet on the G20 forum since it was never a peaceful liberation but a cultural genocide (Tibetan Refugees in India Call on G20 Forum to Discuss Chinese Occupation, 2023). By doing so, the protesting refugees hope to raise awareness about the situation and gain Indian support to help secure their cultural heritage. Perhaps making constructive discussions will lead to peaceful settlements and the safeguarding of Tibet's autonomy and culture.
In reaction to these protests, the Indian government refused to allow rallies near the summit location, claiming the necessity to preserve peace and order during the G20 event. The rallies were largely nonviolent, emphasizing the Tibetan community's demand for freedom and self-determination (Tewari, 2023). China's response to the Tibetan demonstrations at the G20 meeting was not addressed explicitly in official statements. During such international events, China's traditional response is to disregard or ignore protests pertaining to Tibet, focusing instead on diplomatic discussions.
Tibetan protests near Majnu ka Tilla
Analysing the situation through the concept of relativity of security would help us consider security as an ambiguous and context-dependent concept. We can then examine how different actors perceive and prioritize security in their own context, i.e., here in the case of the Tibetan refugee crisis, particularly in relation to the Indian government, Tibetan refugees in India, and the Chinese government. India's approach to security, particularly for Tibetan refugees, is impacted by geopolitical interests and the necessity of balancing diplomatic ties with China. For Tibetans, this involves preserving their cultural identity while also protecting themselves from Chinese government threats of vengeance. China regards security in Tibet as a question of territorial integrity and expansion. The Chinese government's security strategy includes strict measures to maintain control and repress defiance, which it explains as vital to avoiding separatism (Zheng, 2023).
Security, being a relative concept, is impacted by power dynamics, historical legacies, and contrasting opinions among strong and weak entities in global conflicts. It is critical to acknowledge that notions of cultural superiority and inferiority are subjective and are anchored in historical narratives and power dynamics (Barkawi, 2021). These prevailing historical narratives are often biased in favour of the colonial powers, hiding the colonies' dark and traumatic experiences of colonialism. When using the concept of relativity of security to examine global disputes, one must consider the multiplicity of perspectives on security, the history of power dynamics, and the varying security priorities of powerful and weak entities in the global order.
The Chinese government is increasingly using securitization, surveillance, and a biased narrative to subjugate Tibetans and integrate them into China. The Central Tibetan administration claims that Chinese control in Tibet bears all fundamental characteristics of colonialism. Like all colonial regimes, it bases itself on the belief that Chinese ideologies and customs are superior and noble, while Tibetan culture is "backward"(China’s Claims of Progress in Tibet Mask 70 Years of Repression: Report — Radio Free Asia, 2021). In 1949 and 1951, the PLA invaded Tibet, taking control of a region that historically was never a part of China. The Chinese government's display of Han Chinese culture as superior supports the idea of Han culture's hegemony. By resettling the Han Chinese in Tibet, the government's goal is to integrate Tibetans into mainstream Chinese culture by destroying their unique identity. "'Peaceful liberation' is similar to the image propagandized and popularised by China today, where the phrase 'Peaceful Rise' of China is sold in the market." (China’s Claims of Progress in Tibet Mask 70 Years of Repression: Report — Radio Free Asia, 2021).
References:
Aukatsang, Y. (2021). 70 years of colonization of Tibet by China: Tibetans are a minority on their own land. The Times of India. Retrieved 19 February 2024, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/echoes-from-the-himalayas/70-years-of-colonization-of-tibet-by-china-tibetans-are-a-minority-on-their-own-land/
Barkawi, T. (2021). ‘On the Pedagogy of ‘Small Wars’. International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), 80(1), 19–37.
China’s Claims of Progress in Tibet Mask 70 Years of Repression: Report—Radio Free Asia. (2021). Retrieved 19 February 2024, from https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/claims-10012021193648.html
Zheng, W. (2023). China’s security tsar calls on Tibet’s neighbouring provinces to take ‘clear stand’ against ethnic separatism | South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 March 2024, from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3232468/chinas-security-tsar-calls-tibets-neighbours-take-clear-stand-against-ethnic-separatism
Chinese Woman Suspected of Spying on the Dalai Lama to Be Deported. (2022). The Wire. Retrieved 19 February 2024, from https://thewire.in/government/chinese-woman-spy-dalai-lama-to-be-deported
Gravitas: Revealed: China’s 79 torture camps in Tibet | China’s war on Tibetan identity. (2023). WION. Retrieved 17 March 2024, from https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-revealed-chinas-79-torture-camps-in-tibet-chinas-war-on-tibetan-identity-620031
Peoples’ Republic of China: Repression in Tibet, 1987-1992. (1992). Amnesty International. Retrieved 19 February 2024, from https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/019/1992/en/
Tewari, S. (2023, September 8). Tibetan community stages protests against Chinese participation at G-20 Summit. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/tibetan-community-stages-protests-against-chinese-participation-at-g-20-summit/article67286123.ece
Tibetan refugees in India call on G20 forum to discuss Chinese occupation. (2023). WION. Retrieved 19 February 2024, from https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tibetan-refugees-in-india-call-on-g20-forum-to-discuss-chinese-occupation-633804
Hello Arohi! The article provides a great insight into the attempts of the PRC to use surveillance and cultural imperialism as tactics of repression and colonialism in Tibet, really loved how you articulated the happenings. I was wondering about the position of Dalai Lama as an individual in the ongoing conflict. He is someone who as seen as a threat object by the Chinese government, especially as a pioneer of the Tibetan freedom struggle. Would you agree that the treatment and the exile of Dalai Lama is indicative of the means adopted by the PRC in ensuring the subjugation of the Tibetans as a whole?
This article provides a solid account of the Tibet–China issue. As someone who had no prior knowledge about the nuances of the Tibetan struggle, this blog turned out to be really helpful in that manner. Thank you for choosing this topic, Arohi!
You've delved into the complex interplay of power, security, and human rights in the context of Tibet under Chinese occupation, and examining it through the post-colonial lens and the relativity of security really does bring out the complexity of the issue. Your analysis vividly portrays the struggle faced by Tibetans against repression while highlighting the geopolitical considerations influencing India's response and the nuanced approach you took to understand the multifaceted dimensions of security and the historical context enriches…
Hello Arohi! This article offers a really good exploration of the ongoing repression faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule, focusing on the intersection between security threats and human rights violations in the region.
It presents the harshness in which the Tibetan minorities live and, also, draws attention to the geopolitical complexities within this issue.
Through a post-colonial lens, it undergoes a critical reflection on the relativity of security and the contrasting perspectives of powerful and marginalized actors in global conflicts.
Finally, the article underlines the need to address the Tibetans issue by international actors.
Before concluding I have few questions to ask:
How do you see the role of international actors in addressing the ongoing repression faced by Tibetans brought…