Dharamshala — Chinese authorities, along with the military in Meldro Gungkar County (Chinese: Maizhokunggar), central Tibet, have been subjecting young Tibetans to combat and military training in preparation for future warfare. This practice stands in stark contrast to the core values of Tibet and its people, who have long upheld principles of peace, non-violence, coexistence, and harmony.
Recent reports have revealed that Chinese authorities are increasingly militarizing Tibetan youth as part of broader efforts to solidify control over the region. In Maizhokunggar County, located in Lhasa, Tibet, over 300 Tibetan children have reportedly undergone military training as part of a state-backed initiative designed to instill Chinese nationalism and prepare them for future military service. This initiative, which occurred during the children’s school vacation period, signifies a significant shift in China’s policies toward Tibet—policies that increasingly restrict traditional Tibetan education and religious practices.
The Chinese government’s move to train Tibetan children in combat and national defense is emblematic of the broader campaign of “Sinicization” in Tibet. The objective of this campaign is to assimilate Tibetans into the mainstream Chinese societal fabric by promoting Chinese language, culture, and political ideologies—often at the expense of Tibetan language and Buddhist traditions. Tibetan children are frequently placed in state-run boarding schools, where Mandarin is the sole language of instruction, and opportunities for cultural or religious expression are severely curtailed. During school vacations, they are barred from attending monasteries or studying Tibetan, which are seen as essential elements of their heritage.
These developments have provoked alarm among Tibetans, both within Tibet and in the diaspora, who fear that their children's futures are being shaped by an authoritarian regime intent on erasing their cultural identity. Families express concern that upon returning from these state-run institutions, their children no longer speak Tibetan, adopt Chinese values, and increasingly distance themselves from their traditional ways of life. Some argue that this cultural shift is not merely incidental but a deliberate attempt by the Chinese government to assimilate Tibetans into the Han Chinese majority, thereby undermining Tibetan cultural and religious autonomy.
Human rights organizations have condemned these policies as part of a broader trend of political and cultural repression in Tibet. China has long faced criticism for suppressing Tibetans' rights to freedom of religion and expression, particularly in relation to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism and the veneration of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. Reports persist of Tibetan monks and activists being arrested for engaging in peaceful protests or for publicly displaying images of the Dalai Lama.
Chinese authorities have also faced significant condemnation for restricting access to Tibetan-run schools and arresting Tibetan educators, writers, and intellectuals. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has intensified its policies of assimilation through education, pervasive surveillance, and the suppression of dissent.
The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), along with various human rights organizations, has raised alarms over the increasing militarization of Tibetan youth. According to these groups, the Chinese government’s actions undermine Tibet’s traditional values of peace and non-violence, which are central to Tibetan culture. Rather than being nurtured in their spiritual and cultural heritage, Tibetans—especially the younger generation—are being conditioned to prioritize China’s national security and military interests over their own cultural and religious affiliations.
The Chinese government justifies these policies as essential for national security and social stability. However, critics contend that such tactics not only violate fundamental human rights but also further marginalize the Tibetan population, whose identities and way of life are being systematically obliterated.
In addition to the issue of education, China’s growing militarization of Tibet has raised concerns about escalating tensions along the region’s sensitive borders, particularly with India. The increasing involvement of Tibetan children in military training is seen as a troubling development that could exacerbate geopolitical tensions in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, many in the international community are calling for greater accountability from the Chinese government. Advocacy groups and global governments are pressing for stronger measures to protect the rights and cultural heritage of the Tibetan people and to ensure that Tibetan children are not exploited as instruments in an ongoing political and military strategy that disregards their fundamental rights.
This report highlights just one facet of China’s broader policies in Tibet, where growing restrictions on religious freedom, cultural expression, and political speech are taking a profound toll on the Tibetan population. Critics warn that if these policies are allowed to persist unchecked, they could lead to further repression and cultural erasure, with far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for Tibet and its people.
