Chinese Army conducts live military exercises in Tibet

This is the first time that Tibet Military Command of the People's Liberation Army conducted its first air-ground live ammunition drill, it said, without mentioning the date. Troops of air force, armour, artillery and electronic warfare divisions participated in the exercise. The exercises will have a very significant role in exploring training patterns in mountainous and cold areas as well as improving combat capabilities, it said.

The exercises came amid reports of China rapidly expanding its infrastructure with extensive railway network connecting all most all parts of remote Tibet with mainland China, which could provide logistic ability to PLA to move its troops easily to the Indian border overcoming the adverse hilly terrain of Tibet.

China is also poised to open its fifth civil airport in Tibet next month at Xigaze, located close to the Indian border. Xigaze Peace Airport, located in Xigaze Prefecture, 48 km from Xigaze City, is 3,782 meters above sea level. The sprawling prefecture shares land links with Nepal, Indian and Bhutan borders.