The Unites States and Tibet in the 1940s

In: Issues & studies: a social science quarterly on China, Taiwan, and East Asian affairs, Band 26, Heft 6, S. 115-126

Abstract

Among the Western powers, the USA showed little interest in Tibet and played almost no role in Tibetan affairs before the 20th century. In fact, there were neither American citizens, travellers, nor property in Tibet proper until the 20th century. It is thus understandable that the USA was not interested in Tibetan affairs until it was necessary for it to get involved. That time came when the World War II battlefield spread from Europe to Asia. The war changed the USA's toward all of Asia, including Tibet. The paper explores relations between the USA and Tibet during the crucial period of the 1940s. The attitude of the USA towards the Chinese communist invasion of Tibet in 1950. (DÜI-Sen)