evidence: The Qing emperor abdicated following the establishment of the Republic of China. All Chinese troops were expelled from Lhasa. The Dalai Lama reaffirmed Tibet’s independence saying "We are a small, religious, and independent nation." Britain, Tibet and China met to negotiate the borders of India and her northern neighbours. The treaty gave secular control of Qinghai to China and recognised the autonomy of the rest of Tibet. China refused to sign as a result of south Tibet being ceded to British India. [...] This affirmed Chinese sovereignty over Tibet and stated that China would not "alter the existing political system in Tibet" and that "in matters relating to various reforms in Tibet there would be no compulsion on the part of the central authorities".