How the Dalai Lama’s 1913 Declaration Shattered China’s 'Tibet Always Been Part of China' Claim

How the Dalai Lama’s 1913 Declaration Shattered China’s 'Tibet Always Been Part of China' Claim

On February 13, 1913, the Dalai Lama declared Tibetan independence. This demolished the Chinese claims over Tibet, securing sovereignty, history and autonomy for the Tibetans. That day, Tibet rewrote its destiny and quietly planted a historical landmine under modern China’s claims over the Himalayan plateau. In a bold proclamation issued from Lhasa, the 13th Dalai Lama formally restored Tibetan sovereignty, declaring Tibet an independent state a…