Tibetan sovereignty debate

There are two political debates regarding the relationship between Tibet and China. The first debate concerns whether Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and parts of neighboring provinces that are claimed as political Tibet should separate themselves from China and become a new sovereign state. Many of the points in this political debate rest on the points which are within the second debate, about whether Tibet was independent or subordinate to China during certain periods of its history. China has claimed control over Tibet since the 13th century, though this has been contested. All countries today officially recognize Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China and do not acknowledge it as an independent state. While Tibetan independence advocates argue Tibet had periods of de facto independence, Chinese control was solidified in the 1950s. Today, Tibet is officially designated as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) within the People's Republic of China.

It is generally believed that Tibet was independent from China prior to the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), and Tibet has been governed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 1959.

The nature of Tibet's relationship with China in the intervening period is a matter of debate:

• The PRC asserts that Tibet has been a part of China since the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.
• The Republic of China (ROC) asserted that "Tibet was then definitely placed under the sovereignty of China" when the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) ended the brief Nepalese invasion (1788–1792) of parts of Tibet in c. 1793.
• The Tibetan Government in Exile asserts that Tibet was an independent state until the PRC invaded Tibet in 1949/1950.
• A number of outside scholars maintain that Tibet and China were ruled by the Mongols during the Yuan dynasty, treating Tibet and China as separate realms under a common rule. Some other regard Tibet as "part of a Mongol-ruled Chinese state". Many scholars maintain that Ming China (1364-1644) possessed no administrative control in Tibet, while some scholars indicated that Imperial Chinese superiority continued after Yuan and lasted until Qing. Tibet was part of the Chinese Empire, or at the very least subordinate to the Manchu-ruled China during much of the Qing dynasty.
• Many scholars maintain that Tibet, from 1912 to 1951, enjoyed de facto independence with no formal international recognition. Others believe that the 1914 Simla Convention formally recognized Chinese suzerainty over Tibet.

Presently, the 14th and current Dalai Lama is not in support for Tibetan separatism, and instead has advocated that Tibet should not become independent, however it should strive to be given meaningful autonomy within the People's Republic of China. His approach is known as the "Middle Way" approach in which has been officially adopted by the 4th session of the 12th Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies on September 18, 1997.