Introduction
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TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA Introduction Tibet Under Communist China—50 Years is a detailed and comprehensive examination of the various strands of Beijing’s imperial strategy to cement its rule over one of the restive outposts of communist China’s sprawling empire. It sheds new light on the over-arching geopolitical impulses that drive China to initiate new, and sometimes contradictory, policies in Tibet, only to reverse them in a decade or two, all in the attempt to ensure that one loose brick does not bring the whole imperial edifice crumbling down. In this respect, Tibet Under Communist China—50 Years will be a new resource to both China specialists, governments, businessmen and other interested parties in their understanding of the world’s largest surviving empire, which also happens to be its biggest market with a booming economy and an insatiable appetite for energy and other resources. As long as China remained a one-party dictatorship sticking to a socialist pattern of development, the natural resources of the so-called minority peoples were fairly safe. Now with China’s conversion to a market economy with one of the highest annual growth rate in the world, the abundant natural resources on the fringes of the empire are rapidly exploited to fuel the dynamic development of the centre. The change of the Chinese attitude to its imperial fringes, from mere imperial outposts to resource-rich colonies to supply the raw material to maintain a dynamic economy, should be of enormous concern to the so-called minorities who inhabit these vast regions endowed with rich natural resources. It should also be of concern to the rest of world as the competition for fast-depleting natural resources will reach new height and vigour. Tibet Under Communist China—50 Years gives an exhaustive account of this change of attitude of Beijing to one of its colonies. Earlier communist China looked at Tibet more from a geopolitical and security perspective. Now coupled with this enduring imperial reason for staying put in Tibet, an economically vibrant China looks to Tibet as the best source for coastal China’s galloping demand for energy, fuel and water. The devastating impact of this change of attitude toward Tibet is already felt in Tibet as Tibetans, unable to compete with more skilled Chinese settlers, are becoming increasingly marginalised by the forces of globalisation unleashed on the roof of the world. Having lost their country, Tibetans in increasing number are losing their jobs to the Chinese settlers streaming to Tibet to take advantage of the economic boom. v TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA This is one of the issues of concern to Tibetans discussed in Tibet Under Communist China—50 Years. It also gives a detailed account of the events that led to the fall of Tibet, Chinese efforts to collectivise Tibet’s traditional economy, campaigns to eradicate the influence of Tibetan Buddhism, the militarization of Tibet, the brief contacts between Dharamsala and Beijing, a history of Tibet and Tibet’s old social system and other issues thatare of vital concern to Tibet’s neighbours. In short, what China does or does not do in Tibet becomes a mirror to the deep-seated imperial impulses of this ancient and daunting land. We hope that this book will provide an accurate pointer to not only what China is doing in Tibet, but also to the overall direction in which China is heading. Secretary (Information) Department of Information & International Relations Central Tibetan Administration Gangchen Kyishong DHARAMSALA 176 215 H.P., India vi TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA Glossary of Names and Places Amdo One of the three provinces of traditional Tibet, now divided between Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan provinces. Chamdo Chamdo, former headquarters of the Eastern Tibet, is now the administrative seat of the Chamdo Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Chamdo is spelled as Qamdo in Chinese documents. Chideshol Chideshol is a village in Lhoka area in the Central Tibet. Spelled as Ji de xue in Chinese documents, Chideshol now falls under the Lokha (Ch: Shannan) Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Damshung Damshung is a town, located between Lhasa and Nagchu. It is spelled as Daxiong in Chinese documents. Dechen Dechen forms the southernmost part of Kham. It is now referred to as Deqin Xian. Tibetan areas around Dechen are now designated as Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the Chinese province of Yunnan. Derge Derge, a major town in Kham, is now officially referred to as Dege Xian by the Chinese. It now falls under Kartze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. Dhartsedo Dhartsedo, a major town in eastern Tibet or Kham, is now reffered to as Kangding Xian. It currently falls under Kartze or Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. vii TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA Dhashi Dhashi, now named as Haiyan Xian, is a strategic town located on the northeastern shores of Lake Kokonor in Amdo. It falls under Tsojang or Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province. Drichu It is the Tibetan name for Yangtze River, which has its head source at Mt. Thang-la (Ch: Tanggula) in Central Tibet. Drichu-toe Drichu-toe is the Tibetan name for Tongtain River, which flows from Tibet to China. Dromo Dromo is a small town in central Tibet or U-Tsang, near the border of Bhutan and the Indian State of Sikkim. It is also known as Yatung. Dronpa Dronpa (Ch: Zhongba) is a small town located in western Tibet, bordering the Mustang region of Nepal. It is also known as Tadhun. Dzachu It is the Tibetan name for Upper Mekong River, which flows through Chamdo to Yunnan Province in China. It is also known as Langcang River by the Chinese. Gartok Gartok is a small place in Ngari, western Tibet. Golok Golok is located in Amdo. It is now designated as Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. Gormo Gormo (Ch: Golmud), the second largest town in Amdo, was once a vast pastoral land inhabited by a few hundred Tibetan nomads. Today it is a city with a population of 88,500 (1994). Administered by the People’s Liberation Army, Gormo is a major military base on the Tibetan plateau. It is connected by road and rail line to Siling. Gyantse Gyantse is a major town in central Tibet. It is spelled as Jiangzi in Chinese documents. viii TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA Gyerong Gyamo Ngochu It is also known as Dadu River in Chinese documents. Kangtsa Kangtsa (Ch: Gangcha Xian) is a major town to the north of Lake Kokonor in Amdo. Currently, it falls under the Tsojang or Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. Kanlho Kanlho is a Tibetan area incorporated into Chinese Province of Gansu. It is now referred to as Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Kartze Kartze, a major town in eastern Tibet, is now the administrative seat of Kartze or Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the Chinese province of Sichuan. Kham Traditional eastern Tibetan province, now divided between “Tibet Autonomous Region”, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces. Kongpo Kongpo or Gongbu (Chinese) is a tropical fertile valley in southern Tibet, bordering the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of the biggest military bases in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Kyirong Kyirong (Ch: Jilong) is a small border town in western Tibet. Lhoka Lhoka lies to the south of Lhasa. It is now referred to as Lokha or Shannan (Chinese) Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region. Lhuntse Dzong Lhuntse (Ch:Longzi) Dzong is a border district in southern Tibet. laogai (Chinese) Reform through labour (camp); equivalent to a prison. Holds more serious prisoners than a laojiao, a reform through education (camp) which houses detainees usually for up to four years. Machu It is known as Yellow River to the Chinese. ix TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA Mang-ya Mang-ya (Ch: Mangya Zhen), now a part of Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is located in the westernmost part of Amdo, bordering Southern Xinjiang. Markham Markham, a major town in Kham, is now a part of Chamdo prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region. Markham is spelt as Mangkang in Chinese documents. Meldro Gonggar Spelt as Mozhu-gongka in Chinese documents, Meldro Gonggar is a small village to the northeast of Lhasa. Metok Dzong Metok Dzong (Ch: Motuo) is a small strategic town in southern Tibet, where Yarlung Tsangpo or Brahmaputra river bends to enter India. It is one of China’s important military outposts in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Mili Mili is now referred to as Muli Tibetan Autonomous County in the Chinese province of Sichuan. Nangartse Nangartse (Ch: Langkazi) is a small town to the west of Yamdrok Lake in Central Tibet. Nagchu Nagchu (Ch: Nagqu), a strategic town located to the north of Lhasa, is the administrative seat of Nagqu Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region. Ngaba Ngaba is a Tibetan area incorporated into Chinese Province of Sichuan. It is now referred to as Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Nyagchu It is referred to as Yalong River in Chinese documents. Nyemo Nyemo is a small town located between Lhasa and Shigatse. It is spelt as Nimu in Chinese documents. x TIBET UNDER COMMUNIST CHINA Nyingtri Nyingtri, a major town in the Kongpo (Ch: Gongbu) area in central Tibet, is now referred to as Linzhi Prefecture of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Parig Parig, located in northeastern Amdo, is now referred to as Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County in the Chinese Province of Gansu. Phenpo Phenpo is a village in Lhundrup Dzong or District on the outskirts of Lhasa. It now falls under the Lhasa Municipality. Powo Tramo Powo Tramo (Ch: Bomi) is a lagao camp located in southern Tibet, currently under Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region.