Continuing Conflict

Can the situation in Tibet be considered peaceful and the conflict resolved? An extract

From the previous section it is clear that both opposition to PRC rule and repression are ongoing, and that the situation in Tibet is not peaceful. The Chinese government confirms this in its Military Strategy White Paper, in which it singles out the national and political security and social stability challenge posed by “separatist forces for ‘East Turkestan independence’” and “Tibet independence” and the “formidable task” of combatting it.

A conflict can be considered resolved when the leadership of the two sides of the conflict have reached an agreement that addresses the underlying problems. The Chinese and Tibetan leadership have not come to such an agreement. Representatives of the Dalai Lama and of the PRC government did hold nine rounds of talks from 2002 to 2010, but failed to reach any agreement. No talks have taken place since then between the two sides. The conflict therefore remains unresolved.

As recently as 2020, the PRC instituted laws and other measur