In the long course of history, some lands once left us, but eventually returned to the embrace of the motherland. This land was part of the mainland during the Qing Dynasty, but it had to be ceded under the invasion of foreign powers. Exactly 130 years later, in 2011, it finally returned to the heart of the Chinese nation. And when they re-surveyed, people discovered an exciting secret: This place contains a large number of precious and rare resources! For a while, the whole country was excited. But where exactly is this land? How did the Qing government lose it? How did we regain it with great difficulty? Let us go into history and solve this century-old mystery.
Pamir Plateau: The Ancient Silk Road
The name of the Pamirs may seem unfamiliar to modern people, but in ancient times, it was an important presence. It is not only located on the western border of the mainland, but also a necessary place for the ancient Silk Road.
The Pamirs are located in central Asia, spanning present-day Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Surrounded by mountains, the average altitude of the plateau is more than 3,000 meters, and the highest point is close to a terrifying height of 8,000 meters. The climate here is cold and dry, and the terrain is complex and varied, and it is really a desperate place that is rarely visited.
Despite this, the Pamirs still attracted ancient warriors to challenge. The reason is that it is the only way to connect China with Central Asia and India. As early as the 2nd century BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions, opening up the famous Silk Road. It was from here that Zhang Qian and his entourage crossed and arrived at Dawan, Anxi and other countries.
Zhang Qian's feat set an example for future generations. Hundreds of years later, the famous Tang monk Xuanzang also set out from Chang'an, crossed the Pamir Plateau, and went to India to learn scriptures. Xuanzang recorded in detail the difficult journey at that time and the majestic landscapes he saw in the "Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty". It can be seen how important the Pamir Plateau is as a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations.
Over the course of its long history, the Pamirs have always been the territory of the mainland. From the Han and Tang dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was effectively controlled by the Central Plains Dynasty. Even in the last decades of the Qing Dynasty's decline, the Pamirs were still regarded as China's "northwest gateway." It is a pity that it was during this period that this precious territory left us and was divided and occupied by Tsarist Russia and Britain for more than 130 years.
The reason why the Qing Dynasty lost the Pamirs
After the middle of the Qing Dynasty, the national power gradually declined, and the once glorious Qing Empire began to face severe challenges from the Eastern and Western powers. The Pamirs, as a strategic point connecting Central Asia and South Asia, were naturally coveted by the Russian Empire and the British.
At that time, the Russian Empire was in a period of frenzied expansion, and its iron hooves had penetrated deep into Central Asia and set its sights on the Pamirs. It was not only the only way to India, but also a bridgehead for the invasion of northwest China. Once captured, it can directly threaten Xinjiang and other important mainland towns.
For this reason, Tsarist Russia began to force the Qing government to withdraw its troops on the grounds of blurred borders. In the face of the powerful Tsarist Russian army, the Qing Dynasty was powerless to resist and could only make concessions. In 1892, Qing troops were finally forced to withdraw from the Pamirs.
Taking advantage of the situation, Tsarist Russia immediately deployed heavy troops and built military facilities in the Pamirs. Their goal is to turn it into a frontline for an attack on China. At the same time, Britain joined the carve-up.
In 1895, the British invaded and occupied areas such as present-day Kyrgyzstan. The Qing government was powerless to resist under the attack of the two great powers. After some struggle, the Pamirs were eventually divided between Tsarist Russia and the British.
Although the Qing government made repeated representations, they were ignored by the foreign powers. This ancient territory was thus forcibly ceded. Until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, the Pamirs were still occupied by foreigners.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the mainland government repeatedly proposed negotiations with the Soviet Union in an attempt to recover the lost territory. But because the Soviet Union was strong at that time, we had nothing to do. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the independence of Tajikistan and other countries that the situation took a turn for the better.
New China insists on "fighting for every inch of land"
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, we have been well aware of the importance of national territorial integrity. Under the leadership of Comrade Mao Zedong, the Chinese Government adheres to the principle of "fighting for every inch of land" and will never allow any country to illegally occupy our territory.
The liberation of Hong Kong and Macao is an example of our adherence to this principle. In the fifties and sixties of the last century, through unremitting efforts and resolute struggle, the mainland finally forced Britain, Portugal, and other countries to give up their colonial rule over Hong Kong and Macao, and the two ceded territories returned to the embrace of the motherland.
In the same way, the Pamirs have always been considered sacrosanct by us. Soon after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, we made representations to the then Soviet government for the return of the Pamir region, which had been forcibly occupied by Tsarist Russia.
It is a pity that the Soviet Union was in a period of totalitarian rule at that time and was not willing to give up this strategic place at all. In order to avoid conflict with this powerful neighbor, we can only give up for the time being and wait for the right time.
The opportunity finally came in 1991. In this year, due to the intensification of domestic contradictions, the behemoth of the Soviet Union was dissolved. The former Soviet republics became independent, including Tajikistan, which controlled the Pamirs.
The mainland government has alertly seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tajikistan, which has just become independent, has a backward economy and suffers from internal and external troubles, while the mainland is in a period of reform and opening up. We took the initiative to extend a hand of friendship to Tajikistan, and through a series of economic assistance and diplomatic efforts, we finally reached an agreement with Tajikistan in 2011 to recover 1,158 square kilometers of Pamir territory.
In this way, this precious land, which has been away from us for more than 130 years, has once again returned to the embrace of the motherland. This is undoubtedly the best interpretation of our principle of "fighting for every inch of land" and also demonstrates the firm determination of New China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Surprise the treasures of the Pamirs
In addition to the joy of recovering the Pamirs, we soon discovered an exciting surprise: there are a lot of precious mineral resources hidden here!
In 2011, immediately after regaining control of the Pamirs, the mainland organized geological exploration teams to go on field trips. After a lot of reconnaissance and drilling, experts have finally unveiled the mystery of this plateau.
It turns out that under the Pamirs, a surprising amount of mineral deposits are hidden. According to preliminary statistics, there are at least 70 kinds of metal deposits here, with a total reserve of hundreds of thousands of tons, including common metals such as iron, copper, lead, and zinc, as well as strategic scarce resources such as tungsten, cobalt, and lithium.
It can be said that the Pamirs are simply a natural "treasure trove of minerals". These mineral resources are undoubtedly of great significance to the industrial development of the mainland.
In addition to its abundant underground resources, the Pamirs themselves are a desirable tourist destination. With towering peaks, glaciers and beautiful scenery, it is known as the "Roof of Asia". There are many ancient cave ruins and Buddhist art relics on the plateau, attracting tourists and archaeologists from all over the world.
Since its reintegration into the mainland in 2011, tourism in the Pamirs has boomed. It not only has a unique natural landscape, but also a rich Silk Road cultural heritage. Nowadays, a large number of Chinese and foreign tourists come every year to see this inaccessible plateau scenery.
With the strong support of the local government, the Pamirs are speeding up infrastructure construction, building roads, airports and other tourist facilities. In the future, it will surely become a new tourist hotspot in the western part of the mainland.
Significance of reconquest: safeguarding national sovereignty
The reconquest of the Pamir Plateau is of great significance to New China, as it not only demonstrates our firm determination for territorial integrity, but also embodies the inexhaustible driving force for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Since ancient times, the Pamirs have been the territory of the mainland. Since the Han and Tang dynasties, it has been effectively controlled by the Central Plains Dynasty. Even in the last decades of the Qing Dynasty, the Pamirs were still considered the "northwest gateway" of China. Unfortunately, under the pressure of the invasion of foreign powers, the Qing government was forced to cede this valuable territory.
Now, more than a century later, the Pamirs are finally back in the bosom of their homeland. This is not only the best interpretation of our principle of "fighting for every inch of land", but also demonstrates the firm determination of New China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, we repeatedly lodged representations with the then Soviet government, demanding the return of the Pamir regions forcibly occupied by Tsarist Russia. Unfortunately, due to the limited national strength at that time, we had no choice but to give up. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that the situation took a turn for the better. We seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with vigilance, and through unremitting efforts, we finally reached an agreement with Tajikistan in 2011 to regain this territory, which had been separated from us for more than 130 years.
This process has once again confirmed that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to national sovereignty and territorial integrity. After the return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland, the recovery of the Pamirs is a powerful proof of our insistence on "fighting for every inch of land." We will never allow any country to illegally occupy our territory, no matter what the circumstances.
More importantly, the reintegration of the Pamirs marks a solid step forward in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As an important node of the ancient Silk Road, it bears the historical imprint of Chinese civilization. Now, the territory of the motherland has once again embraced this plateau, and we have more confidence to inherit and carry forward the essence of Chinese culture.
In the future, the Pamirs will surely become a new economic growth pole in the western part of the mainland. Here, we will not only develop the rich mineral resources, but also vigorously develop the tourism industry, so that more people can know and know this beautiful place off the beaten track. Through infrastructure construction and industrial upgrading, the Pamirs will become a bridge connecting Central Asia and contribute to the construction of the "Belt and Road".
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In short, the reconquest of the Pamirs indicates that the Chinese nation is moving towards a bright future of great rejuvenation with a firmer pace. This is not only a defense of our sovereignty, but also a inheritance of Chinese civilization, which will surely inject new impetus into the development of the motherland.