October, 1950 - Chinese People's Liberation Army troops invade Tibet. March, 1959 - Tibetans stage an abortive armed separatist uprising in which thousands die battling Chinese troops. The Dalai Lama flees to India with an estimated 80,000 followers and establishes a "government-in-exile" in India. 1962 - India and China fight brief border war, with New Delhi suffering defeat. 1966 - China's Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution begins and Red Guards stream into Lhasa, carry out destructive campaign eradicate the "Four Olds" -- old customs, old habits, old culture and old thinking. 1988 - Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visits Beijing, signals thaw in relations. New Delhi eases support for complete independence of Tibet. 1989 March - China imposes martial law in Lhasa after three days of anti-Chinese rioting. About 50 Tibetans are shot dead by police. October - The Dalai Lama is awarded the Nobel peace prize. 1990 May - China lifts martial law in Lhasa. Tibetan government-in-exile disbands to pave way for greater democracy. 1991 December - Chinese premier Li Peng leaves India after milestone visit, the first by a Chinese premier in 31 years. India detains 500 Tibetan protesters. Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao says China is ready to hold talks with exiled Tibetan leaders. 1992 August - A high-level delegation of Tibetan exiles decides to leave for China to hold "open-minded" talks with Beijing. 1993 June - The Dalai Lama threatens to quit the Tibetan struggle in protest against violence used by pro-democracy activists in Lhasa August - The Dalai Lama says at a rare news conference in India that he was fighting for Tibet's political autonomy, not complete independence. He says there are seven million Chinese in Tibet, against six million Tibetans. 1994 April - Indian mobs attack and burn Tibetan offices in Dharamsala after an Indian youth was alleged to have been stabbed to death by a Tibetan. Tibetan activists seek Indian government's help and protection. 1995 May - Dalai Lama declares six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the true reincarnation of the second holiest Tibetan figure, the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989. December - India-based Tibetans protest against Beijing's choice of a six-year-old boy, Gyaincain Norbu, as the second holiest figure of the Tibetan community, calling him a "fake Panchen Lama." 1996 June - The Dalai Lama swears in new Tibetan government in exile following elections. November - Indian police detain 50 Tibetan exiles during a visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin. 1998 March - Hollywood star Richard Gere visits Tibetan activists on hunger strike. April - A Tibetan activist, Thupten Ngodup, dies after setting himself on fire in protest against police action to stop a hunger strike by activists. The event, following the visit of Chinese military chief Fu Quanyou, signals growing restlessness among Tibetans over peaceful protest methods. May - India conducts nuclear tests. Hot words are exchanged with Beijing after Defence Minister George Fernandes, a long-time supporter of Tibetan activists, remarks that China is a key security threat. October - India says would welcome talks between the Dalai Lama and Beijing authorities. December - Dalai Lama says in the Indian city of Patna that he is open for talks with China for mutual agreement "without any precondition, anytime, anywhere." 1999 January - Tibetan youth activists crash into Chinese embassy in New Delhi, burn Beijing's flags. China criticises India for failing to stop them. Source: Reuters
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