what does china gain from having power over tibet?

[brooklyndust]

i never understood what china has gained or why they want power over tibet and the tibetan people?

can some one please explain to me why china will not free tibet?

is it money?
land?
religous/ political?

what is their reason?

[tenjay]

china and india haven't always had the best of relations and tibet is good strategically for china. it's up high in the himalaya's and looks down the mountain to india. if there were to be a war, being up hill is more advantageous.
also, controlling tibet keeps any other power from gaining influence there. china could feel threatened if another nation swayed tibet against china. they could build weapons there or place military there, neither of which china would like. and seriously, do you think if china gave up control, tibet would just become a closed off, undeveloped, nation with no international relations? countries would want to deal with tibet.
lastly, people don't usually like to give up things that they consider their own. it's human nature.