Chinese authorities in Tibet compelled locals to celebrate Mao Zedong's 130th birth anniversary, attributing the "peaceful liberation of Tibet" in 1950 to Mao. Tibetan authorities in exile consider this event an invasion and illegal annexation. Residents reported that officials disseminated false information, portraying pre-invasion Tibet as impoverished to justify the region's annexation. The source emphasized that while Tibet has witnessed development since the Chinese invasion, many free countries also developed without the need for "peaceful liberation.

" China invaded Tibet in 1950, fully taking control in 1959 after a failed uprising. The Dalai Lama fled into exile, and Chinese officials have maintained strict control, suppressing political and cultural expression. In October, Beijing changed Tibet's name to "Xizang" to further diminish its independent identity. Chinese authorities also promoted the notion that the Dalai Lama willingly signed the "17-Point Agreement" in 1951, a claim disputed by experts and rights groups.