Today marks the 75th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Xizang. More than seven decades ago, the region was under the influence of Western imperial powers, while a feudal serfdom system kept much of the population oppressed. Our reporter Cen Ziyuan visited the Xizang Museum and spoke with scholars about the significance of this history – and why the fight against separatism still matters today.
The Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Xizang, also known as the Seventeen-Article Agreement, was signed on May 23, 1951, in Beijing between the Central People's Government of China and the local government of Xizang.
It was a moment that set the region and its people free from invading imperialism.
LIANG JUNYAN Researcher, Institute of History Studies, The China Tibetology Research Center "The Agreement represents the most important legal recognition of Xizang's return to the motherland."
But it is a page of history that the West has put decades-long effort into rewriting, calling the signing of the Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Xizang a "coercion."
LIANG JUNYAN Researcher, Institute of History Studies, The China Tibetology Research Center "Therefore, to overturn it, they must first claim that they had no rights at all, that they were forced to sign it, and that the agreement had been fully drafted in advance. These are pure lies."
Liang said the ongoing attempts to give false accounts of the facts stem from history, with the United Kingdom's armed invasion of Xizang twice in 1888 and 1904.
LIANG JUNYAN Researcher, Institute of History Studies, China Tibetology Research Center "Imperialist forces and the upper classes colluded to oppress the ordinary people of Xizang, deepening the feudal serfdom system that had persisted for centuries and pushing society into even darker conditions. Their influence had become so extensive that it permeated nearly every aspect of life."
Xizang was the last place in China where imperialist forces still maintained a foothold.
LIANG JUNYAN Researcher, Institute of History Studies, China Tibetology Research Center "The overall situation had been set, and China could already liberate Xizang. The priority was to safeguard national unity while minimizing damage and loss as much as possible. That is why peaceful liberation was chosen. Another reason was Xizang's unique religious and ethnic conditions, as well as the mistrust and divisions between Han and Tibetan people that had been intensified by imperialist interference. There was a clear desire to avoid using military force in a way that could further deepen or amplify those contradictions."
Back and forth communication through telegram and memoir proved that the draft of the Agreement was approved by Xizang's upper level at that time.
LIANG JUNYAN Researcher, Institute of History Studies, China Tibetology Research Center "Later, due to the stubborn resistance of local forces, we also knew that the central government ultimately decided to launch the Qamdo campaign, using fighting to promote peace. The fighting was also for the purpose of promoting peace, so that they would come to the negotiating table."
In October 1951, the People's Liberation Army entered Xizang and marched into Lhasa, marking a historic turning point in the region's peaceful liberation. Few could have imagined then that Lhasa – and Xizang as a whole – would one day develop into what it is today.
LIANG JUNYAN Researcher, Institute of History Studies, China Tibetology Research Center "Of course, this was not something that disappeared overnight in 1951 – it needed time. But most importantly, it safeguarded national unity and protected the country's territorial sovereignty and integrity. That is the key point. Without the peaceful liberation of Xizang, none of the democratic reforms that followed would have been possible."
Today, 75 years after the peaceful liberation of Xizang, the region has undergone profound transformation.
Modern development has reshaped daily life across the plateau while preserving the region's unique cultural heritage.
MAO QI Director, Department of National Governance, Party School of the Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee "Xizang's various undertakings have made comprehensive progress and historic achievements. Economic development has seen simultaneous growth in both scale and speed, industries have advanced in coordination, and people's living standards have significantly improved, with remarkable achievements in high-quality development."
Scholars say the lessons of history still matter today. As Xizang continues to develop, efforts against separatism and attempts to distort history remain an important part of safeguarding national unity and stability in the region.
Cen Ziyuan, CGTN, Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region.