Monday, September 15, 2003
Reshaping Tibet
Nothing new in this New York Times story. However, it is useful to remind oneself of a great injustice in one of the most peaceful corners of the world, unnoticed thanks to a combination of apathy and realpolitik. Not that I think Tibet has any hope of becoming independent, but the story reminds one of the gradual atrophying of one of the world's unique cultures.
The Chinese Communist government is reshaping Tibet with the force of China's superheated economy, pouring money and tens of thousands of Han Chinese into the region. The economic goal is to "modernize" Tibet's agrarian economy. But the political goal, analysts say, is to gradually secularize Tibetans and undercut political opposition with the fruits of capitalism.
Of course, there are two sides to this story too, i.e., the economic benefits of the "Hanification" of Tibet.
the investments also seem intended to expand tourism. The number of tourists visiting Tibet, discounting the drop this year attributed to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in China, is growing rapidly. While the high altitudes once kept many Chinese away from Tibet, now, encouraged by Beijing, they are coming in droves, adding another dimension to the Chinese presence in Tibet.
The Chinese Communist government is reshaping Tibet with the force of China's superheated economy, pouring money and tens of thousands of Han Chinese into the region. The economic goal is to "modernize" Tibet's agrarian economy. But the political goal, analysts say, is to gradually secularize Tibetans and undercut political opposition with the fruits of capitalism.
Of course, there are two sides to this story too, i.e., the economic benefits of the "Hanification" of Tibet.
the investments also seem intended to expand tourism. The number of tourists visiting Tibet, discounting the drop this year attributed to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in China, is growing rapidly. While the high altitudes once kept many Chinese away from Tibet, now, encouraged by Beijing, they are coming in droves, adding another dimension to the Chinese presence in Tibet.
