China – Tibet

Largely dormant, low level, with a recent uprising in 2008. Many refugees and human rights problems. Traditional Buddhism vs Chinese secularism and colonisation.
 
Tibet has been claimed by China since the 1240s Mongol invasion of Tibet (Yuan dynasty). Tibetan sovereignty has never been clear. China invaded in 1950 after the Maoist revolution. Failed uprising in 1959: the Dalai Lama fled to India. Repression during the 1960s Cultural Revolution - destruction of monasteries, thousands of deaths, many exiles (mainly to India and the West).
 
In the 1980s, China relaxed control, bringing ‘open door’ reforms and economic development, believing the independence movement to have subsided. But economic development mainly benefits the migrant Chinese - high Tibetan unemployment, lack of basic rights, tax inequalities and human rights abuses. Riots in 1988, followed by repression. In 1996, the new Panchen Lama was arrested, replaced by a Chinese nominee. Subsequent normalisation - a railway was opened to Lhasa in 2006, with development of tourism.
 
Amongst Tibetans, there are stresses between the Dalai Lama, advocating autonomy within China, and a more militant independence movement. A sudden uprising in early 2008 in Lhasa and the provinces (re: Olympic Games in Beijing), was severely repressed. There is evidence of CIA backing of independence movement, and secret Chinese fomenting of violence.

LINKS:

BBC: Tibet Timeline
BBC: Country Profiles
Wikipedia: Tibet
Tibetan Government in Exile
Free Tibet Campaign
The Guardian: Tibet