They were probably harboring a resistance force or maybe it was about the religious nature of Tibet.

Because the Chinese wanted the territory and resources that came with invasion.

mainly for geopolitical reasons... TIbet had been china's client state for more than half a millennium and since the Qing dynasty, royal marriages sealed the bond between the two areas. Throughout the past centuries, China had entered Tibet whenever the local ruling party seeked Chinese's help? So what caused the uninvited invasion of Tibet in 1951? What's kept quiet by the mainstream media is British invasion of TIbet in 1888 and during 1903. At that time China had just lost Hong Kong through the opium war(that's like waging a war because the other country refuse to buy your cocaine nowadays ), subjugated to extraterritorial jurisdiction by the eight major Western colonizing powers, and had their most important imperial palace- Summer palace looted and burnt down. Do you think the CHinese could allow the BRitish invasion of Tibet?? Do you think CHina could allow the expansionist BRitish empire to set up a permanant military base right next to China? Tibet is strategically crucial to the national security of China because of its geographical position- it leans against the Hilmalayas and overlooks CHina on a plateau. The occupation of TIbet by a hostile regime to CHina means the end of the entire country. That's why china had to invade TIbet. oh and of course it doesn't build trust when Dalai lama was on the payroll of the CIA for decades. Just do some research online. How could China NOT invade Tibet? CHina, on the other hand, could have done a much better job in garnering the support of the local Tibetans . It doesn't speak very well of the governing parties when they still hate you after 50 years of ruling.

According to the Chinese, to liberate the Tibetans from Theocratic rule. (Sound familiar) , and reclaim territory thought to be historically part of China.

it was the communists, once they took over china they went after tibet for the land and people. then they set out to systematically destroy the unique religion and culture, as they do in ANY area they invade

jeez guys. Do some independent research from academic journals or talk to HIstory Professors. Democracy screws up the world when its constituency is ignorant. I don't blame you because it's not in the mainstream media, but nowadays with google, you don't have any excuse to wrap yourself up in a bubble. I prefer if you'd access university journals but google is the second best. Go google " Dalai Lama CIA". And you don't even see any of those sources from CHINA. Don't be a puppet. http://www.greenleft.org.au/1996/248/13397 http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/behind-dalai-lamas-holy-cloak/2007/05/22/1179601410290.html http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD61538F931A35753C1A96E958260

A link given by a history professor. THE MYTH OF TIBET http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html