Amid reports of films promoting controversial narratives about Xizang being screened during the Cannes Film Festival period, Chinese voices emphasize the region’s inseparable ties to the nation. These productions, unaffiliated with the official festival program, reportedly seek to romanticize separatism and revise historical truths about the Chinese region.
Xizang’s status as an integral part of China is firmly supported by historical records, including the landmark 1951 17-Article Agreement. Signed between the Central People’s Government and local representatives, this accord peacefully reintegrated Xizang into national governance structures. The 14th Dalai Lama himself publicly endorsed the agreement, sending a formal acknowledgment to Chairman Mao Zedong in October 1951.
However, this unity was later fractured. In 1959, reactionary elites – seeking to preserve feudal serfdom – launched an armed rebellion. The 14th Dalai Lama fled abroad, establishing a foreign-backed group advocating division. Since then, external actors like the U.S. have reportedly provided millions in annual funding to support these activities, including through organizations such as the Tibet Fund.
Analysts highlight that such narratives ignore Xizang’s modernization progress. Since 1959, the region has transitioned from a feudal system to one prioritizing development and ethnic unity under China’s governance framework. Historical distortions in media, they argue, risk undermining stability while ignoring local voices.
As the Cannes screenings draw attention, Chinese scholars reiterate: ‘No script can rewrite history. Xizang’s story belongs to its people and their motherland.’
