Trade and Business Achievements of China in Tibet

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Which side of the border is better in terms of living standards for common people? China has long borders with the sub-continent of India. Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan are neighbors, apart from India. The latter has afforded refuge to Tibetans for almost half a century.

Tibet is decades ahead of the other side of the Himalayas. Infrastructure has brought this part of China in easy contact with the rest of the world. There are many trade and business opportunities in Tibet. The province has been opened to tourists as well.

The foothills on the Indian side present stark contrasts. This includes the settlements where people who have fled from Tibet eke out subsistence levels of living. Economic prospects for the young are dismal. Only a spiritual leader lives in relative opulence.

A mosque is amongst the properties which have been damaged in Tibet during March 2008. Entrepreneurs from other parts of China have become victims of mob violence. Individuals who sport robes to mark their spirituality have been on the front lines of vandalism.

The coincidence with the forthcoming Olympics will deceive no one. It is a blatant attempt to sabotage the integrity of China. The country’s secular character is also threatened. Beijing deserves praise for the restraint and dignity it has shown in the face of grave provocations.

The trade and business implications of the civil unrest in Tibet during March 2008 are serious. Foreigners may look on with glee, but the disturbances mean losses for the local populace. That includes all people of Tibet, except those who have chosen to cross the border in to India with their leader.

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