I just came across a good article about the recent protests in Tibet written by a Chinese friend of mine. She urges people not to believe in everything the Western media says and provides us with some interesting facts and figures that go some way to counter the common pro-Tibet arguments. Here's an excerpt:

 

 

There has been a large influx of non-Tibetan settlers in recent years into the Tibetan Autonomous Region. If Tibet were to gain independence, fighting would break out between the Han and the Tibetans all over again. This would be a bitter and bloody battle, and could possibly involve the military action of China, would result in unimaginable civilian death. Xinjiang, a part of China with a Muslim majority, may take the chance to declare independence, as, perhaps, might Taiwan. The Chinese government will naturally oppose this, but the US has vowed to step in should China threaten war with Taiwan. For 2 countries with sizable nuclear arsenals, this could really be the end of the world O_o.

 

 

Follow this link for the full article.