Chinese PLA Conducts Special Forces Drills in Tibet

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted drills to drop Special Forces 'behind enemy lines' in the high altitude region of Tibet.

"It's normal for any military training to have an imaginary opposing force," Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"In this case, it's obvious who the target is, given the fact that training was conducted on the plateau in Tibet. Infiltrating behind enemy lines was "an effective special operation that could be key to winning a battle," Song said.

The training prepared participants for potential military confrontation with India, Song added.

The pilots can also master more combat techniques and improve their overall combat capacity, PLA Daily reported.

Having helicopter pilots train with special forces on the ground empowers them to learn how to eliminate enemies without their familiar equipment, according to Song.

Military operations in Tibet are difficult because of its high elevation, low atmospheric pressure, thin air and relatively low temperature, according to Song.

Before this drill, pilots were trained solely in aviation, such as guiding helicopters, judging weather and environments, the Beijing-based military newspaper said.

In June, China set up an unmanned automatic weather observation station in Tibet near China's border with India to provide meteorological support for national defense.

China has earlier conducted drills involving artillery firing along with assault by a light tank in Tibet near the Indian border in July last year.  The new type 35-tonne tank had carried out trials in the plains of Tibet.

China also deployed several types of high tech equipment along parts of its border with India including a surveillance camera network and a proposed satellite early-warning monitoring system. The equipment will give an early-warning of any risks to security as well as overcoming previous blind spots, Song had said in April this year.