They themselves agreed that they were under Chinese suzerainty at Simla in 1914.
From the economist.com
David preferred a nominal Latin suzerainty to annexation by the Nicaean emperor.
From the en.wikipedia.org
In 1091 it separated again and accepted the suzerainty of the Hungarian crown.
From the en.wikipedia.org
In 1812, Peshawar was a suzerainty of Afghanistan, but contested by the Sikh Empire.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Suzerainty was a colonial concept indicating limited authority over a dependent state.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Chinese government sources consider this a sign of sovereignty rather than suzerainty.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Ottoman suzerainty remained virtually unchallenged throughout the following 90 years.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Nothing in the plan precluded rule through an Arab suzerainty in the remaining areas.
From the en.wikipedia.org
The Husainids originally ruled under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.
From the en.wikipedia.org
More examples
The position or authority of a suzerain; "under the suzerainty of..."
Suzerainty (or RP, or GA) occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic . ...
A relation between states in which a subservient nation has its own government, but is unable to take international action independent of the superior state
Sovereign, paramount, dominion, authority, a superior lord to whom fealty is due. Suzerain, a state that exercises political control over another state.
Noun - the position or power of a suzerain (N.B. suzerain is 1. a feudal lord 2. a state in its relation to a semiautonomous state over which it exercises political control)