Tibet has made enormous strides under Chinese rule  Contrary to the impressions forwarded by the proposition, Tibet has made enormous strides under Chinese rule. The urban population has increased seven-fold since 1950, [1] literacy has increased from the teens to being as high as 95%, [2] and the average life expectancy has increased from the low 30s to the 60s.  Furthermore, with few natural resources and the economy in Han hands, there is a need for investment capital, and that capital can only come from China. Even the Dalai Llama acknowledged this in 2006, suggesting that a relationship with China similar to that between EU countries would be ideal. [3]  [1] European Space Agency, ‘The Himalayan region’, esa.int, 18 February 2010,   [2] Literacy rate among young people climbs in Tibet, People’s Daily Online, 31 July 2008,   [3] Liu, Melinda, ‘Fears and Tears’, Newsweek, 19 May 2008,