In May 1951, Tibet's leaders signed a 17-point treaty drawn up by Beijing, legitimising Tibet's incorporation into China after its invasion the previous year. The document guaranteed no change to Tibet's political, cultural or religious institutions.

But the annexation, billed by China as "a peaceful liberation", was seen by locals as an occupation and Tibetans say China failed to keep to its side of the agreement.
In 1959, demands for the end to Chinese rule reached a tragic end, with thousands of protesters dying as their revolt was crushed.

But China decided to adopt a carrot and stick approach, and with Tibet's spirital leader the Dalai Lama fleeing to India, Beijing decided that, instead of abandoning Tibet's ancient theocratic system, they would chose their own candidate to be the Panchen Lama - Buddhism's second most important figure.

Beijing also introduced what it called its modernisation of Tibet and granted thousands of peasants property rights - ending Tibet's old feudal system.

But even though in 1965 the autonomous region of Tibet was set up, Tibet's Chinese masters simultaneously installed ethnic Chinese into the Himalayan province.

Continuing his exile in Dharamsala, in Northern India, the Dalai Lama has over the years become the symbol of peaceful resistance to the Chinese occupation. Since 1979, he has supported a middle way that of renouncing Tibet's independence in return for autonomy, enabling it to preserve its identity

But Beijing is suspicious of this attitude and believes independence is his real aim. Sporadic contact with the Tibetan government-in-exile according to Beijing, has produced nothing.

While Chinese initiated projects such as the railway line linking Tibet to China are seen by Beijing as Tibet benefiting from its links to the rest of the country - opposition Tibetans accuse the Chinese of trying to colonise by stealth and they say the result will be a diluted ancient culture, and a loss to the world.