the dalai and mao -
ABOVE: This photo was taken at the first National People’s Congress on October 13, 1954 in Beijing. It shows the Dalai Lama shaking hands with Chinese leader Mao Zedong, chairman of the People’s Republic of China. This photo depicts the mutual and friendly relations between the two before the invasion of Tibet.
SOURCE: (“The Dalai Lama in Pictures”)
SOURCE: (“The Dalai Lama in Pictures”)
"Mao Tse-tung (1893-1976), chairman of the People's Republic of China between 1949 and 1976 . . . was primarily responsible for the 1950 Chinese invasion of Tibet and the harsh policies toward Tibetans in later years . . ."("Tibet's Struggle for Independence from China, 1950").
“Following a lengthy civil war in China, Communist leader Mao Tse-tung established a government in Beijing in October, 1949. Soon after, Beijing declared its intention to "liberate" Tibet . . . Mao's People's Liberation Army . . . invaded and . . . occupied Eastern Tibet. This served, in part, to force Tibet's ruler, the Dalai Lama, into capitulation and submission . . . Tibet saw no choice but to negotiate with the Chinese. What resulted was the Seventeen Point Agreement, which was signed on May 23, 1951. ("Tibet's Struggle for Independence from China, 1950").
Previous to the writing of the Seventeen-Point agreement, 'The Dalai Lama assumed power at a formal ceremony and wrote to Mao Zedong: ‘The relationship between Tibet and China has deteriorated during my minority. Now that I have taken responsibility, I wish to revive the past harmonious relationship between us.' The Dalai Lama asked Mao to release the Tibetan prisoners of war and withdraw Chinese troops from the Tibetan territory,” (“Facts About the 17-Point Agreement”).
Mao said himself in a speech in February, 1957,
“Following a lengthy civil war in China, Communist leader Mao Tse-tung established a government in Beijing in October, 1949. Soon after, Beijing declared its intention to "liberate" Tibet . . . Mao's People's Liberation Army . . . invaded and . . . occupied Eastern Tibet. This served, in part, to force Tibet's ruler, the Dalai Lama, into capitulation and submission . . . Tibet saw no choice but to negotiate with the Chinese. What resulted was the Seventeen Point Agreement, which was signed on May 23, 1951. ("Tibet's Struggle for Independence from China, 1950").
Previous to the writing of the Seventeen-Point agreement, 'The Dalai Lama assumed power at a formal ceremony and wrote to Mao Zedong: ‘The relationship between Tibet and China has deteriorated during my minority. Now that I have taken responsibility, I wish to revive the past harmonious relationship between us.' The Dalai Lama asked Mao to release the Tibetan prisoners of war and withdraw Chinese troops from the Tibetan territory,” (“Facts About the 17-Point Agreement”).
Mao said himself in a speech in February, 1957,
"Tibet was not yet 'ripe' for socialist reforms."
And that Tibet would only be undertaken if the Tibetans themselves recognized that the time was ‘opportune.’ "Based on these assurances, the Dalai Lama returned to Lhasa in March of that year.” ("Tibet's Struggle for Independence from China, 1950").