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Tibet, the Dalai Lama and the power struggle with China | DW Documentary

  • September 27, 2024



Tibet, the Dalai Lama and the power struggle with China | DW Documentary

The 14th Dalai Lama is 89 years old. The question of who will succeed him has sparked a power struggle between India and China. Beijing wants to be solely in charge of choosing the next Tibetan spiritual leader. In its eyes, Tibet belongs to China.

The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since 1959. The older he gets, the more important the question of his succession becomes — not only for the future of Tibet, but also for global geopolitics. India, the United States and the European Union support Tibet, which has demanded autonomy since its annexation by China in 1950. China, meanwhile, does not recognize the Dalai Lama’s government in exile.

Beijing is now determined to take sole responsibility for appointing the next Dalai Lama, raising fears that the debate could have serious political consequences. Tensions between China and India have been exacerbated by a conflict over a disputed border, which has been smoldering since 1962. When Mao Tse-tung’s People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet, India lost the Buddhist neighbor that lay between it and Communist China. With the Tibetan people forced to assimilate, India granted asylum to the 14th Dalai Lama and numerous other refugees, much to Mao Tse-tung’s displeasure. Since then, conflict has simmered, especially in the disputed Himalayan border region.

By taking power in Tibet, China was also able to secure valuable mineral resources such as chromium, copper, borax, uranium and lithium. It also gained control over the sources of Asia’s largest rivers — something India sees as a threat to its supplies of fresh water.

Tibetans themselves are caught in a standoff between the two most populous nations in the world, which are also major economic powers. It is not easy for them to make their voices heard, despite the best efforts of their spiritual leader.

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40 comments

  5. if people want to go, let them go, they are Indian, American or other country people, As a host, Tibet should let these guests go to their home country.

  25. Very thorough and informative documentary on Tibet and the Tibetan people as well as India and China. I was looking for a documentary on what was happening with the Tibetan people and you provided the history of when China first annexed Tibet as their own. Thank you very much for this powerful documentary and all the research and work your team put forth in providing this updated information on this crisis that's happening. I don't believe there will ever be a functioning free Tibet with their culture and people's except in exile and that is a great loss for Tibetan people and the world. 😢

  26. The basic issue in Tibet is that the Chinese Communist Party does not and cannot believe in religion as a social and national institution in Tibet. It cannot also allow the existence of multi-party electoral democracy based on an adult franchise. Unless China sees the kind of political transformations, the Former Soviet Union the Tibet issue will remain frozen in history dominated by the People's,Liberation Army. Shri Prakasg

  33. Don't give up Tibetans! The hardest battles are given to the toughest soldiers. Rise up, Resist & Return to Tibet. FREE TIBET 🔥

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