Tibetan Youth: "We Want Support & Understanding, Not Pity"

Therefore, repeating basic facts about Tibet appears to be unnecessary and a waste of time. Nevertheless, one cannot help wondering how many in any particular audience or how many of your readers are truly aware that never before 23 May 1951 - when a conquered and defeated Tibetan government was forced to sign an unequal 'treaty' - the so-called "17 Point Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" - had Tibet ever surrendered its independence. Therefore, China's claim that 'Tibet has always been a part of China' has no basis, whatsoever, in fact that Tibetan language - both spoken and written - have no relation whatsoever with Chinese. that Tibet has its own National flag and National Anthem that while it is true various Chinese dynasties had on several occasions interfered in Tibetan affairs, it is equally true that various Tibetan kings and rulers had invaded China or otherwise exercised influence in Chinese affairs. On one occasion in 763 AD Tibetan troops even occupied Chang'an - the then Chinese capital - deposed the Chinese Emperor who was not friendly towards the Tibetans and appointed the son of another branch of the royal family as Emperor ? that the traditional boundary between Tibet and China was demarcated by the Peace Treaty of 821 when it was decided that the two countries shall never interfere in each other's affairs; believing that "Chinese shall be happy in the land of China and Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet." The text of this Treaty - containing these ancient words of wisdom - were carved on three stone pillars - one pillar each for the two capitals of Lhasa and Chang'an and the third pillar for the border, which was placed at a placed called Gugu Meru. The third stone pillar has so far not been found. But the texts of the other two stone pillars have been compared by independent western and Tibetan scholars and have been found to match.? that long before the Mongols established the Yuan Dynasty in China in 1279; the Tibetans established a tribute relationship with the Mongols in 1207 and thus averted a military invasion by Genghis Khan.