China’s Unceasing Build-Up

Prasun K. Sengupta

As part of its continuing force accretions in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces (PLAGF) had begun operationalising three new medium combined armed brigades (CAB) that will come under the command and control of the PLA’s Western Theatre Command’s Tibet Military District (TMD), while the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) has expedited the construction of two greenfield dual-use airports that will enable it to house more than 120 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) of various types within TAR.

New PLAGF medium CAB HQ in Gyantse

Previously, the TMD had under its jurisdiction five combat formations, which included:

• 52 Mountain Brigade (located at Bayi village, Linzhi County) or Unit-77675, comprising an artillery regiment (located at Nixi, Bayi village, Linzhi County) or Unit-77678; 1st Battalion (Bujiu village, Linzhi County); 2nd Battalion (Yongjiu village, Linzhi County); 3rd Battalion (Yongjiu village, Linzhi County); and the 4th