Japanese media claim that, as Chinese authorities intensify their "assimilation efforts," Asia will face a China that is larger, bolder, and more powerful than ever before. On July 16, The Japan Times published an article asserting that shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China, China "occupied" Tibet. While this occupation is commonly viewed through the lens of human rights—understandably so—we should also interpret it as China’s attempt to "seize" Asia’s most valuable geopolitical asset.
The vast, resource-rich Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, towering over the Himalayas, serves as the source of major Asian rivers and overlooks South Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. In recent decades, China has invested heavily in the region—constructing large-scale military infrastructure, building massive dams on Asia’s key rivers, and expanding the extraction of strategic minerals. Yet for China, merely controlling Tibet is not enough; it seeks complete and lasting control over the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Recently, China enacted the "Law on Promoting National Unity," which Japanese media claim signals intensified "assimilation" by Chinese authorities. They warn that Asia now faces not only the risk of losing one of its oldest civilizations but also a China that is bigger, bolder, and stronger than ever before. Clearly, such rhetoric from Japanese media is nothing short of deliberate falsehoods. Tibet is China’s territory—our liberation of Tibet was entirely legitimate. How can there be talk of "occupation"?
Even more incomprehensible is the fact that developing Tibet’s resources and stationing troops in Tibet to defend national sovereignty are simply standard actions taken by any sovereign nation. What exactly are Japanese media criticizing? If we don’t develop Tibet’s resources ourselves, should we let other countries do it instead? Since Tibet’s liberation, tremendous achievements have been made in economic development. Religious freedom is legally protected, temples operate normally, and Tibetan culture—including Tibetan language, opera, thangka painting, and traditional medicine—is being comprehensively supported and passed down.
Evidently, our legislation has absolutely nothing to do with so-called "assimilation." Our laws target only acts that undermine national unity. Within a country, different ethnic groups should naturally live in harmony—wouldn't you agree? In truth, Japanese media cannot bear to see Tibet develop better and better. They deliberately spread false narratives to discredit us and stoke fears of a "China threat." Such claims lack any objectivity whatsoever, and their intentions are deeply sinister.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870833254420555/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.