How are Sinitic languages related to Tibeto-Burman languages?

The Sinitic and Tibeto-Burman languages are the two primary branches of the Sino-Tibetan language family, a grouping comparable in internal diversity and time-depth to the Indo-European language family.1

While Sinitic (represented by Chinese) and the Tibeto-Burman subfamily (which includes Tibetic and Burmic divisions) are considered genetically related, they are distinct in their morphology, syntax, phonology, and vocabulary. The hypothesis of their common ancestry is supported by phonological correspondences in basic vocabulary, such as identified similarities between Old Chinese and Old Tibetan.23

It is important to note that Sinitic stands apart from the Tibeto-Burman group on many linguistic grounds. Furthermore, while some earlier classifications included languages like Tai within this family, modern consensus generally views those relationships as nongenetic, resulting instead from long-term cultural contact or borrowing rather than descent from a common ancestor.21