Tibet Brief 20/20 - by Michael Van Walt Van Praag & Miek Boltjes (Paperback)

About the Book

Debunks China's historical narrative created to back up its sovereignty claim to Tibet, settles Tibet's international legal status and raises awareness for our governments' corresponding legal obligations.

Book Synopsis

If you thought Tibet was water under the bridge, this book will make you think again.

Tibet Brief 20/20 is a wakeup call that establishes a link between China's current expansionism and the international community's misguided appeasement on Tibet. The book maintains that many states are today not only acting contrary to their international legal obligations by treating Tibet as China's internal affair, beyond their purview; they are also enabling China's aggressive behavior and blunt display of entitlement. Our governments, the authors argue, must urgently course correct, and not only in order to do right by the Tibetans.

The authors first convincingly show that, contrary to what Beijing claims and to what many people take for granted, Tibet was historically never a part of China, and Beijing does not have the right to rule Tibet and exploit its resources. They do so by thoroughly debunking China's narrative created to justify its sovereignty over Tibet. The result of their historical and legal analysis is not only a new appreciation of Tibet, but also a new understanding of the Mongol and Manchu empires as well as China.

Next the book demonstrates that both Tibet's occupation and Beijing's suppression of the Tibetans' right to self-determination are serious violations of international law, and that all states have an obligation to help end the seven-decade Sino-Tibetan conflict.

Tibet Brief 20/20 is a call to action. The result of ten years of collaborative research, and benefitting from the authors' intimate understanding of the Sino-Tibetan conflict and efforts to resolve it, the book is a must read and indispensable reference for policy makers, civil society advocates and Asia specialists.

Review Quotes

"Tibet Brief 20/20 is essential reading for policymakers-making a convincing case that our governments have a responsibility under international law to help peacefully end the occupation of Tibet. For decades Beijing has waged a sinister campaign of oppression against Tibetan religion, language and culture, all while masking the truth about its aggression from the world. This powerful work reaffirms that it is our moral duty to stand with the people of Tibet and to hold the government of China to account for its unacceptable behavior." Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

"The first book to fully expose the falsity of China's claim to Tibet and the historical narrative Beijing uses to fabricate it. It has implications far beyond the Sino-Tibetan conflict and is indispensable reading for policymakers. It reinforced my belief that we are dealing with a violation of international law and that the international community has an obligation to course-correct." Martin Bursík, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic

"This book is absolutely vital in understanding the illegality of China's invasion and continuing occupation of Tibet, the illegitimacy of China's claims that Tibet is an inherent part of China, and the criminality of China's atrocities in Tibet. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the situation in Tibet and the nature of the Chinese Communist Party." Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch and author of The China Nexus: Thirty Years In and Around the Chinese Communist Party's Tyranny

"The authors provide well documented elements for serious reflection on the state of relations between China and Tibet that cannot be ignored by the international community, especially in light of China's increasingly aggressive assertiveness on all fronts-including political, economic and military ones-since Xi Jinping's rise to power. The book proposes measures to address this issue peacefully in accordance with international law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations, that is the universality and indivisibility of human rights." Senator Giulio Terzi. Di Sant'Agata, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy

"Authoritarian regimes and dictatorships like to rewrite history to their liking. This is the case with the Peoples Republic of China, which after illegally occupying Tibet in 1951 has promoted a narrative to legitimize its atrocities and negate the identity, history and culture of independent Tibet. This book is fundamental to understanding how Tibet was never historically part of China and provides the international community the legal and political instruments to bring the Sino-Tibetan conflict to an end." Gianni Vernetti, columnist for La Repubblica, former Senator and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Italy