Tibet's Seven-Decade Nightmare: PLA Occupation Since 1950

China's invasion and military occupation of Tibet stands as one of the most enduring and systematically destructive occupations in modern history. For over seven decades, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has maintained its iron grip on the "Roof of the World," transforming a peaceful Buddhist nation into a surveillance state while conducting cultural genocide.

The Initial Invasion (1950–1951)

On 7 October 1950, 40,000 Chinese troops crossed the Jinsha River and invaded eastern Tibet's Kham province. The Chinese Communist Party had prioritised Tibet's annexation even before proclaiming the People's Republic on 1 October 1949. Within days, the PLA captured Chamdo, decimating Tibet's small army of 8,500. The invasion was swift and brutal. By 19 October 1950, five thousand Tibetan soldiers were defeated, and Chamdo's governor was captured.

Under threat of complete annihilation, Tibetan representatives were coerced into signing the "17-Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" in Beijing on 23 May 23, 1951. China violated these provisions almost immediately. By September 1951, 3,000 Chinese "liberation forces" marched into Lhasa, beginning the systematic dismantling of Tibetan society.

The 1959 Uprising and Massacre

By 1954, a staggering 222,000 PLA troops were stationed in Tibet, creating famine conditions. In February 1956, revolts erupted in eastern Tibet as Chinese authorities began "democratic reforms", a euphemism for systematic destruction of Tibetan society. The PLA responded with overwhelming force, bombing monasteries and executing Tibetan leaders.

The situation reached breaking point in March 1959. On March 10, over 30,000 Tibetans surrounded the Norbulingka Palace to protect the Dalai Lama. The Chinese response was merciless. On March 20, Chinese artillery shelled the palace with 800 shells, slaughtering thousands of civilians. The Potala Palace and major monasteries were also bombed.
According to Chinese documents, 85,000–87,000 Tibetans perished during the rebellion alone.

Systematic Religious Destruction

The scale of monastic destruction was unprecedented. Of Tibet's 6,254 monasteries in 1959, only 13 remained by the Cultural Revolution's end-a 99.8% destruction rate. The Tibet Autonomous Region saw 2,500 monasteries reduced to just 70 by 1962.

The destruction continues today. In May 2025, Chinese authorities demolished over 300 Buddhist stupas at Karze. In 2024, the 19th-century Atsok Gon monastery was completely destroyed for a hydropower project. Public prayers for the Dalai Lama are banned, and monks face constant surveillance and forced "patriotic education" sessions.

Cultural Genocide Through Language Suppression

China's assault on Tibetan language has intensified under Xi Jinping. The government’s goal of having 85% of China speak Mandarin by 2025 directly targets Tibetan identity. Tibetan children as young as four are forced into boarding preschools for Chinese immersion.

Dr. Gyal Lo witnessed his grandnieces’ transformation after three months in these schools: "they only spoke in Chinese and didn't like the Tibetan food at home"²³. This systematic separation of children from families constitutes textbook cultural genocide under international law²⁴.

Demographic Warfare

China has pursued aggressive Han Chinese settlement, fundamentally altering Tibet's demographics. While Tibetans remain a narrow majority at 50.30% versus 49.69% non-Tibetan in 2023, the trend is alarming.

Resource Exploitation and Environmental Destruction

Tibet’s vast resources have become the foundation of Chinese colonial exploitation. The region contains over 126 mineral types, with China establishing nearly 100 mining sites. China’s latest mega-project—the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River—will generate three times more power than Three Gorges Dam. This $167 billion project threatens entire Tibetan communities while giving China control over water resources affecting India and Bangladesh.

Desperate Resistance: Self-Immolation

Since February 2009, 150 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against Chinese occupation. These ultimate sacrifices represent the desperation of a people with no other means to draw world attention. Most called for the Dalai Lama’s return and Tibet’s freedom. The youngest was just 15 years old.

Seven Decades of Unbroken Oppression

Today, 75 years after the initial invasion, Tibet remains under the same brutal occupation. Over 1.2 million Tibetans have died under Chinese rule, thousands of monasteries lie in ruins, and an entire civilization faces extinction.

The PLA’s seven-decade nightmare in Tibet serves as a stark reminder that military occupation, combined with cultural genocide, can persist for generations without meaningful international intervention. Unless the world acts decisively, Tibet’s unique Buddhist civilization may not survive another generation under Communist rule.

The flames of Tibetan self-immolators illuminate not just their own suffering, but the moral failure of a global community that has allowed this slow-motion genocide to continue unchallenged for seven decades. Their sacrifice demands justice, not just sympathy.