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Revisiting Tibet’s Status Before Communist China’s 1950 Invasion
Tsering Passang | 12 February 2026
Long before the People’s Republic of China (PRC) asserted control over Tibet, the Tibetan people exercised self-rule and formally affirmed their independence. On 13 February 1913, following the collapse of the Manchu (Qing) Empire and the expulsion of remaining Chinese forces from Tibet, the Great 13th Dalai Lama issued a historic proclamation. This largely overlooked declaration directly challenges the narrative that Tibet has “always been part of China” and provides essential context for understanding the events leading to the 1950 invasion.
Like many nations, Tibet has experienced periods of strength and vulnerability across more than two millennia of recorded history. From the 7th to the 9th centuries, during its imperial era, Tibet expanded signif...
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