No Legitimate Rule: The 1951 Annexation of Tibet and Coercion in Illusion of Consent

From Liberation to Occupation on Tibet: The Myth of the 1951 Peaceful Union

The Official Chinese Historiography presents Tibet joining the mainland in 1951 through a smooth and friendly process. Such a narrative, which has been consistently repeated in textbooks, museums, and diplomatic statements, is based on the claim of long-standing sovereignty of the Chinese dynasties over Tibet. However, a thorough examination of the historical documents, diplomatic exchanges, and local governance not only clarifies the facts but …

No Legitimate Rule: The 1951 Annexation of Tibet and Coercion in Illusion of Consent

On May 23rd 1951, the “Seventeen Point Agreement of the Central People’s Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet” was signed. This agreement legitimized claims of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over Tibet and retroactively justified the previous year’s military invasion of eastern Tibet by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In brief, the agreement was signed after the People’s Liberati…