With the high levels of autonomy and the "proclaiming of independence" by several Tibetan representatives, this period of Tibet is often described as "de facto independent", especially by some Tibetan independence supporters, although most countries of the world, as well as the United Nations, recognized Tibet as a part of the Republic of China.
Med de mange tibetanske repræsentanters udstrakte grad af autonomi og "proklamation af uafhængighed" beskrives denne periode i Tibet ofte som "de facto selvstændigt", mens mange lande og FN formelt har anerkendt Tibet som en del af Republikken Kina.