China Tibet, also known as TAR, is a democratic region in China that is very poor, and is mainly inhabited by Buddhists. Throughout its long history, Tibet at times has governed itself as an independent state and at other times has had various levels of association with China. Whatever China 's involvement in Tibetan affairs, Tibet's internal government was for centuries a theocracy, under the leadership of Buddhist lamas, or monks. In 1959 the Dalai Lama …showed first 75 words of 1308 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1308 total…people earned about half that amount. Although the Chinese government contributes subsidies to help offset Tibet’s low standard of living, controversy has developed over who benefits from this aid (Encarta 3). Subsistence agriculture dominates the Tibetan economy. Productive land, concentrated mostly in the river valleys, is limited in area. The principal subsistence crops are barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and various vegetables and fruits. Cotton, soybeans, walnuts, tea, and hemp are grown as commercial crops.