As we see, that isn't at all true.
History of TibetThe Dzungars invaded Tibet in 1717, deposed and killed Lobzang Khan's pretender to the position of Dalai Lama. This was widely approved. However, they soon began to loot the holy places of Lhasa, which brought a swift response from Emperor Kangxi in 1718; but his military expedition was annihilated by the Dzungars, not far from Lhasa.[85][86]
A second, larger, expedition sent by Emperor Kangxi expelled the Dzungars from Tibet in 1720 and the troops were hailed as liberators. They brought Kelzang Gyatso with them from Kumbum to Lhasa and he was installed as the seventh Dalai Lama in 1721.[87][88]
Following the Qing withdrawal from central Tibet in 1723, there was a period of civil war.
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China began posting two high commissioners, or ambans, to Lhasa in 1727. Pro-Chinese historians argue that the ambans' presence was an expression of Chinese sovereignty, while those favouring Tibetan claims tend to equate the ambans with ambassadors. "The relationship between Tibet and (Qing) China was that of priest and patron and was not based on the subordination of one to the other," according to the thirteenth Dalai Lama,[93] (The thirteenth Dalai Lama was deposed (1904), reinstated (1908), and deposed (1910) again by the Qing Dynasty government.) [94]
As we see, that isn’t at all true.
The ariticle you quoted should tell you something.
western people and CHinese has misunderstanding of the relation between tibet and CHinese empire.
western people often think tibetan was a protectorate of Chiese empire.
In fact Chinese empire looked on TIbet,Mongolia as “Inner vassal” and dealt with the affair by a special ministry called “ ministry of inner vassal affairs”.
During Chinese empire era, Korea and Vietnam were the real “protectorates”,because Chinese empire looked on them as “outer vassals” and dealt with the affairs by the ministry of foreign affairs.