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February 21, 2008
OJPCR 8.1: Can Tibet Play the Role of Buffer State Again?
Gunjan Singh
The establishment of the British Empire in India in 1757 and economic penetration of China by the Western Powers from 1839 fundamentally altered the traditional balance of power on the Asian continent. British policy towards Tibet was characterized by two conflicting imperatives which, throughout their rule in India, they sought to reconcile. From early on, the British rulers realized the importance of Tibet as a buffer between India and any other external power on the north, be it France, Russia or China. However, to support or even encourage a completely independent Tibet was to damage a much larger commercial interest in China. Thus, they sought to limit Chinese power in Tibet and encourage Tibetan autonomy. In short, the British Government recognized what they called Chinese “suzerainty” but not sovereignty in Lhasa. The British rulers were unsuccessful in establishing contact with Lhasa until 1904.
Posted by Editor at February 21, 2008 10:48 AM