Kathamndu : China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has mandated compulsory military service for young individuals in Tibet, raising concerns and shedding light on potential underlying motives. This move is seen as a strategy with dual objectives. Firstly, it aims to weaken Tibetan cultural identity by disconnecting youth from their traditional way of life, thereby facilitating China's broader agenda of assimilating Tibetans into the dominant Han Chinese culture—a process known as Sinicization. Secondly, the PLA seeks to leverage Tibetan recruits in high-altitude border regions with India, where regular Chinese soldiers often struggle with altitude sickness. Tibetans, accustomed to the harsh conditions, are deemed more suitable for such deployments.

Under the directive issued by the PLA, all students in Tibet are now mandated to undergo military training starting from the 8th grade, typically around the age of 13. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in forfeiture of scholarships, higher education opportunities, and other unspecified benefits. Termed the Military Development Course for Youth, this program ostensibly aims to equip young Tibetan men with military skills, potentially deploying them to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the contested border between China and India.

Furthermore, the Chinese government is actively recruiting Tibetans into the PLA, signaling a concerted effort to bolster its military ranks. Last December, the PLA recruitment office in Khamba County announced promising career prospects in the military for Tibetans, extending the upper age limit for Tibetan recruits from 24 to 26 years old. PLA recruiting centers in certain Tibetan counties are also collecting data on young men, suggesting a keen interest from the Chinese government in potential Tibetan applicants.

This recruitment drive serves two primary purposes for the PLA. Firstly, it provides an avenue for promoting integration with China by imparting "Chinese values" to Tibetan recruits, thereby challenging the persistence of Tibetan cultural traditions despite decades of Chinese rule. Secondly, the PLA seeks soldiers who can effectively operate in high-altitude environments. During the Ladakh standoff with India, many PLA soldiers struggled with altitude sickness, highlighting the strategic advantage of deploying Tibetan soldiers familiar with such conditions. This approach could potentially reduce the need to deploy soldiers from eastern China to challenging terrain zones.

Historical context sheds light on China's approach to Tibetan recruitment. Following Tibet's defeat in the battle of Chamdo in 1950, which weakened its position and paved the way for Chinese pressure on the Dalai Lama's government, the 17-Point Agreement signed by Tibetan governor Ngabo Ngawang Jigme heavily favored China. Despite provisions for the gradual integration of the Tibetan army into the PLA, lingering prejudices and tensions may have hindered full assimilation.

Declassified reports from the 1980s suggest that social class played a significant role in Tibetan recruitment before Deng Xiaoping's "Open Door Policy" ushered in changes. Education became a priority, and eligibility criteria evolved to be more inclusive. Despite these shifts, recent recruitment drives have seen dwindling interest among young Tibetans, potentially due to perceived limited future opportunities after military service.

Reports emerging in 2021 indicated the establishment of new militia units in strategically significant areas like the Chumbi Valley, with a focus on Tibetan recruitment. These developments coincide with ongoing border tensions with India along the LAC, suggesting an increased emphasis on bolstering military presence in contested regions. Moreover, mandatory military training for Tibetan schoolchildren during summer breaks further underscores efforts to dilute Tibetan cultural identity and instill Chinese ideology from a young age.

China's coercive tactics extend beyond military recruitment, with broader suppression of Tibetan Buddhism and cultural expression aimed at eroding Tibetan autonomy and resistance. By promoting Chinese language, values, and nationalism, China aims to reshape Tibetan identity to align with its political agenda. International condemnation and advocacy are essential to challenge China's oppressive actions and safeguard Tibetan identity and freedoms in the face of ongoing repression.