Beijing’s efforts to press gang Tibetans into the People’s Liberation Army or PLA continues with intelligence reports of 120 Tibetan children, some only six years old from Demchok, Tashigang, Langjiu, Chiakang, Rudok and other places taken to boarding school in Beijing. A large number, between the ages of 10 to 18 have been moved to Shiqanhe Military Camp for language training and that includes not just Mandarin, but also Hindi.

Other Tibetan children, from Classes 11 and 12 or equivalent are being conscripted into the PLA for three to five years. After that they have a choice: if they wish to stay on in the PLA, they will automatically have access to higher education.

The Chinese attempts to forcibly enlist Tibetans have been going on for a while. The Tibetans are better suited to handling the cold and high altitude than the Han Chinese from the coastal areas. A large number of Han Chinese soldiers in the PLA have fallen ill during the time they spent facing Indian troops along the line of actual control in Ladakh over the last two years. They have a better idea of the countryside, which can be tactically helpful. Click here to read more.