At the time of independence, India’s official position was that it recognized Tibet as an independent country while also recognizing the fact that it was under Chinese suzerainty. After the annexation of Sinkiang in 1949, Delhi started getting alarmed. Overnight, India had a common border with China in Ladakh. As the communists tightened their hold over China, Chairman Mao declared that henceforth Tibet should be regarded as a part of China. By early 1950 the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had made it amply clear that it intended to annex Tibet. In a meeting held in Kalimpong, West Bengal,
...more
