China claims 700-year hold on Tibet

BEIJING, April 8 (UPI) -- China, facing growing Tibetan protests against its rule, says Tibet has been under its jurisdiction for 700 years.

Citing historical records it has published, China's State Archives Administration says Tibet had been under the jurisdiction of the central government since the Yuan Dynasty, which lasted from 1271 to 1368, Xinhua reported.

The documents, made available on the agency's Web site (www.saac.gov.cn), include 15 official pieces claiming the conferring of titles upon Tibetan officials or about the central government setting up offices in Tibet.

Saying the documents are only "a tiny part" of the historical records," agency director Yang Dongquan said, "The records are indisputable proof that Tibet has been a part of China since the ancient time, and Tibet has been under jurisdiction of China's central government during the past 700 years."

Thus, he said, any attempt to separate Tibet from China would not be allowed.