China (sensuo-strickto) is exposed as being roughly half the size claimed by the Chinese government and further reductions may be possible if territory of other "minorities" were taken into account. There is evidence to suggest that 90% of "minorities" have either disappeared or been dispossessed of their homelands and/or submerged by massive influx of Chinese colonists since 1949.

As the former Soviet Union was considered a land empire, so too is China, but has escaped popular conception as suc, largely through ignorance. It seems that it too may be destined for breakup along similar lines as the old Soviet Union. Both Tibet and East Turkistan have long histories of resistance to Chinese domination and strong independence movements. Whilst "Inner" Mongolia has suffered massive Chinese colonisation, many Mongolans advocate the reunion of their country. Manchuria it seems has suffered heaviest from Chinese colonialism and is all but submerged, yes still there are Manchurians who advocate independence.

The disputed Indo-Tibetan border, a sensitive military zone, is the scene of regular friction between India and China and was the subject of war in 1962 when the Chinese invade. Newly independent Mongolia, having lost Russian domination, sits precariously in the face of Chinese claims to it. The virtually constant unrest in Tibet and East Turkistan has brought expressions of solidarity between the peoples of these two suffering nations and expressions of support have been voiced from people in newly independent Kazakhstan. The Chinese Empire is the focus of largest and last of the great independence struggles of the 20th century, which are still little known or understood.

Adapted from "Tibet: The Facts" by Paul Ingram.
Tibetan Young Buddhist Association, 1990.