Tibet – a Big Chinese Mistake?

I was listening to an interview with a representative of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. He made a good point, and I wish to echo: it would benefit The Peoples' Republic of China (PRC) to embrace rather than pummel Tibet.

OUR STORY SO FAR

In 1950, the PLA (People's Liberation Army) invaded Tibet (Battle of Chamdo) and absorbed it into the PRC. Ever since, the PRC has attempted to homogenize Tibet into obedience. They have failed: Tibetan culture and nationalism thrives; worse, the Chinese Communist Party has transformed the leader of Tibetan Buddhism into a global celebrity.

RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE

The PRC has done everything they can to suppress Tibetan culture: outlawing the language, prohibiting the flag, preventing traditional cultural celebrations, destroying historic buildings, arresting people wearing traditional garb, and so forth. They are doing everything they can to erase all traces of Tibetan culture and identity, much like the ancient Roman Senate declaration of damnatio memoriae (condemnation of memory) or Thutmose III trying to remove all evidence of Queen Hatshepsut by destroying her cartouches, statues, and images.

Tibetans are being forcibly relocated to other parts of the PRC, and people from the Han Chinese race are being moved into Tibet. In some cities in Tibet, it is impossible to find a native Tibetan.

They have failed: Tibetan culture is flourishing, not just in Tibet and the PRC, but they have also forced the culture to explode internationally (for that, I am grateful).

TIBET CAN BE A VALUABLE ASSET

Tibetans have demonstrated intelligence, courageousness, and tenacity in their battle against the PRC. Tibetan Buddhism is very powerful, and its adherents loyal to the point of death. If harvested, these would strengthen the Chinese Communist Party, and reinforce their grip on the PRC and the Han Chinese race, no? When will they realize that it would be more profitable to water, fertilize, and claim Tibet and her religion and culture as one of their very own, than to beat it into the ground with a baseball bat?

I realize that there are historic reasons for this: Mao's distrust of religious people, xenophobia, use as a pawn in their effort to intimidate India, view that Tibet was originally autonomous but still belongs to China, quashing irredentism, etc. The PRC should either embrace and support her neighbor, allow it to become autonomous once again, or set if free: military invasion and cultural destruction is not the correct choice.