The Tibetan sovereignty debate concerns 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. While Tibetan independence advocates argue Tibet had periods of de facto independence, Chinese control was solidified in the s. As of current, 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, Since the 13th century, Tibet has been under the suzerainty of non-Tibetan rulers, first under the Mongols and later under Chinese authority, with autonomous status within China since The Tang-Tibet treaty of , often cited for recognizing Tibetan sovereignty and territorial integrity, has not been honored by any Chinese government since that time.
From the 19th century onwards, foreign powers have consistently recognized Tibet as part of China in all diplomatic agreements, which accorded China the sovereign right to negotiate and sign treaties related to Tibet. Despite minor exceptions, no country has formally recognized Tibet as a sovereign nation over the past two centuries. The political authority of the Dalai Lamas in Tibet was influenced by external powers, with the title "Dalai" originating from the Mongols. Since the 18th century, Chinese authorities have overseen the selection of the Dalai and Panchen Lamas.
Between and Tibet was free of the paramountcy of the Republic of China and functioned as a de facto independent entity. However it did not receive the de jure international recognition of a legal status separate from China. The government of the People's Republic of China contends that China has had control over Tibet since the Yuan dynasty β In the Imperial Edict of the Abdication of the Qing Emperor was issued in the name of the Xuantong Emperor , providing the legal right for the Republic of China which previously ruled mainland China from until and now controls Taiwan to inherit all territories of the Qing dynasty, including Tibet.
