No it was not part of China.true it was attacked by the Mongol invaders who also invaded and conqured China until it too was liberated.....Tibet was a unique area with its own historic culture, unqiue language and unique blend of orginal Budhism which flourished for thousands of years. Actually the historic land of Tibet was several cultures, including Ghorm and some smaller kingdons...but largely it was a pair of independent kingdoms of its own origin. Modern China has NO cliam to the independent Kingdom of Tibet or any claim to sovereignty over it or the Dalai Lama. This has been one of the great tragedies of modern times and I pray for liberation of these fine people and their wonderful leader who i venerate greatly. Lies are lies spoken in political motivation or not. Tibet and will always be free, even if enslaved and exploited now for its mineral resources and for political reasons that are created not historic.
China invaded and murdered thousands of innocent and peaceful monks who had not lifted a finger against the invaders, they burned monastaries that were thousands of years old, and destoryed countless irreplaceable doccuments and religious artifacts because they feared and loathed the spiritual path of the Tibetans and still do. They murdered and imprisoned hundreds again last year and few spoke out against it and now that there is an international economic meltdown, the west has no courage to support Tibet in exile. My family fought for freedom here in the US for generations, both in military service and in government and for the very same principles that the Tibetan People have been fighting since their country was invaded by the Chinese. I have the greatest respect for China and its great and historic culture but it has no right to invade and exploit a free people and to try to submerge it in a wave of forced immigration, roads, railways, and modern industry that Tibet, which is a fragile and unique eco system, cannot support and does not want. Eventually i hope that the chinese invaders are thown out and all vestiges of the "modern" implanted culture are destoryed and removed. Until then, I am sorry to see people here who do not stand up for freedom that our own country is built upon. Technology including airports and planes is not a souless apolitical tool for use by anyone who has the funds for it, and I for one have no wish to use a add on made by anyone who will not stand up for freedom and truth.
China did suffer what is known as the Century of Humiliation when parts of China were split off and taken by European powers, but that time is over. Tibet has unfortuantly become a symbol for modern China of that time, and a false history has been created that claims historical 'special relations" between the independent Kingdom of Tibet and China that were continued by the Republic of China and then by the Peoples Republic. This was not and is not true. Since the invasion in 1959, China has build roads, railroadds, airports and intrstructure that they claim is a major investment and gives them further claim, but these things do not serve the people of Tibet and their tradditional culture which is largely self sustaining and was developed over thousands of years to fit in with the high alpine and arid climate and the very slim natural resources of the region.
the current president of china was the Chairman of the chinese communist party at the time of the Tienamen Square uprising and there were also uprisings and revolts in Tibet that were harshly attacked and respressed and at least 5000 people were killed in Tibet but possibly many more. China has just issued a "White Paper" demanding that the Dalai Lama cease all activites and surrender all claims to autonomy, and give up any independence. This will never happen i hope, and is another example of a modern nation state exploiting and trying to dominate an indiegenous people for its own aims.
If you are interested in one of the most remarkable modern men, the Fourtheenthj Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, winner of the 1989, Nobel Peace Prize, you can read a speech he gave to the United Nations and get a sense of his great humanity and intelligence and compassion....here:
http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Tibet/DalaiLama/DalaiLama.htm
I hope that people will realize that Tibet is not a Hollywood image or a rebellious and wayward provice as claimed by one of the most powerful modern nations that has no need of this small corner of the world...... Tibet is a unique and remarkable nation of its own long history and past, present and hopefuly future. I am hopeful that my sharing here will be allowed to remain, and that it is seen as a sincere sharing for truth. However, if my post is removed or edited, i will leave this forum, for i feel strongly that much of the history that we enjoy and study as part of flight and aviation has been dedicated to freedom and protecting the rights and freedoms of speech, culture and independence that Tibet symbolizes, and i could not read statments being made that were travesties of the historic truth claiming that Tibet is part of China and remain silent.
Namaste. In the end, Peace is stronger but for it, many have to suffer it seems.