The historical tensions between India and China have been significantly influenced by the central Asian region known as Tibet. Over time, Tibet has witnessed periods of China asserting administrative control as well as asserting its own independence. In 1950, China took direct control over Tibet, a move that was met with resistance from substantial portions of the Tibetan population. India, in an attempt to advocate for Tibet's independence, engaged with China in negotiations. A significant agreement in this context was the Panchsheel agreement of 1954, which included clauses about the mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. As a result of this agreement, India acknowledged China's claims over Tibet.

What did China assure India about Tibet's autonomy before the situation deteriorated there in the 1950s?

Greater autonomy than other regions of China

The historical tensions between India and China have been significantly influenced by the central Asian region known as Tibet. Over time, Tibet has witnessed periods of China asserting administrative control as well as asserting its own independence. In 1950, China took direct control over Tibet, a move that was met with resistance from substantial portions of the Tibetan population. India, in an attempt to advocate for Tibet's independence, engaged with China in negotiations. A significant agreement in this context was the Panchsheel agreement of 1954, which included clauses about the mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. As a result of this agreement, India acknowledged China's claims over Tibet.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, accompanied the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during an official visit to India in 1956. During this visit, the Dalai Lama highlighted the deteriorating situation in Tibet to Prime Minister Nehru. Despite concerns, China had previously assured India of granting Tibet greater autonomy than other regions within China. However, in 1958, an armed uprising against Chinese occupation erupted in Tibet, which was subsequently suppressed by Chinese forces. As conditions worsened, the Dalai Lama sought asylum in India in 1959, much to the protest of the Chinese government.