By Khedroob Thondup

When Beijing marched into Tibet in 1950, it declared the move a “liberation.” Yet more than seven decades later, the question remains unanswered: liberation for whom? For Tibetans, the invasion has meant the loss of sovereignty, suppression of culture, and the erosion of basic freedoms. If China truly believes its narrative—that Tibetans have benefited from integration into the People’s Republic—then the most honest test of that claim would be a referendum.

The Democratic Litmus Test. A referendum would allow Tibetans to express, freely and without coercion, whether they accept the so‑called “liberation” or reject it as an occupation. Such a vote would be the ultimate measure of legitimacy. Self-determination is a principle enshrined in international law. Referendums have resolved disputes from East Timor to South...