PLA conducts major military operation in the Tibetan Autonomous Region

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted a co-ordinated joint military operation in the Autonomous region of Tibet this week. 

 PLA Commanders on field planning.

In addition to the PLA Ground Forces, a contingent from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLA-AF) also participated in the operations. The exercise was supervised by officials from the Tibetan Military District, which is a part of the Chengdu Military Region. A number of fighter jets and military helicopters belonging to the PLAAF participated, in addition to hundreds of soldiers from the Ground Forces.

With the latest military drills, the PLA has so far conducted a total of four major military operations in the Tibet region, for the last 6 months. Indian officials have expressed their concerns over many of the drills, which allegedly took place close to the disputed Indo-China border, near the Aksai Chin region. However, the Chinese military officials have claimed that the drills were routine training operations, and said that the operations were by no means directed against any of the neighbouring nations, including India. 

 

Chinese PLAAF fighters  in Tibetan plateau  China in Tibet Chinese military locations in Tibet

Last month, the PLA had conducted a successful test launch of its new Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) in Tibet. Earlier the Ground Forces had conducted major anti-tank drills in the same region. Defence analysts have opined that the heightened Chinese military activity comes as a response to the Indian plans to deploy missiles along the Indo-China border. Earlier this year, the Indian defence authorities had approved a plan, to deploy the BrahMos I Block-III supersonic cruise missiles along the border between the two nations in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. 

 

Tibetan Plateau People's Liberation Army Air Force J-10 Vanguard Vigorous Dragon practicing with precision guided bomb LS-6 & four 4 SD-10 PL-12, BVRAAM PL-8, 10.

Despite the tensions surrounding the deployment of missiles and the conduction of major military exercises, local experts have noted that the relations between the two sides are warming up. In July, an Indian delegation visited several of the PLA’s military facilities in the sensitive Tibetan region, and held talks with the senior Chinese officials. The Chinese defence minister, Liang Guanglie is also likely to visit India on an official trip next month.

J-11 Sino Flanker Fighter Aircraft in Action

Very Interesting GIF image of the J-11 Sino Flanker Fighter Aircraft during an exercise displaying its high maneuverability and ability to fired medium range PL-12 Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile. The J-11 Sino Flanker serves as frontline fourth generation aircraft People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

 

J-11B Cobra and PL-12 Missile Launch

 

China’s Military Capabilities Closer to France, not the U.S.

2013-07-12 — Despite talk of a “rising China” and allegations that it is stealing massive amounts of defense trade secrets, the East Asian nation is still far from equal militarily to the United States, an expert on the country said July 10.

“If I had to look 10 years out, I think you’re going to see something like what the French can do today. Nothing like what the English did with our help in the Balkans,” said Larry Wortzel, author of the new book, “The Dragon Extends Its Reach: Chinese Military Power Goes Global.”

There is a deep incongruity between the China and the United States, he said during a presentation of the book at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

“At least for China, they see us as the greatest potential threat,” said Wortzel.

As for potential conflicts with the United States, the most likely scenario would be over sovereignty in places such as Taiwan, or confrontations with allies such as Japan.

“They’re trying very hard to avoid that,” said Wortzel. “I think the likelihood of a major conflict remains relatively low.”

China is a keen observer of U.S. strategies, he noted.

“What they did was essentially watch how we handled the war in the Baltics, and watched how we handled the war in Iraq, and they read everything the United States published on the topic and used that as a model,” said Wortzel. “They focus on us and they focus on our technology.”

“I think the People’s Liberation Army and its Navy have learned a lot in the past few years,” he added. “One of the things I’ve learned from all this research is, if you go through enough articles from Chinese universities by scholars, you really see the guts of some of the ideas and doctrines.”

The Chinese have discovered the importance of overseas military bases. “They need places they can go to reliably for repairs, for refueling, for food,” said Wortzel.

He advised that close attention be paid to the nation’s ability to employ military forces, especially in proximity to U.S. naval bases. “You will see the capacity to deploy ships outside bastions close to the coast that can actually hold parts of U.S. ports — embarkation ports — at risk,” he added.

According to Wortzel, a great deal of what the Chinese are doing is “pretty transparent,” but the United States is lacking in its knowledge of the nation’s intentions or what kind of escalatory action would trigger a conflict with it. Of China’s plans: “They want to deny the U.S. the ability to operate near China, and then they want to support thei

J-11B, A Great Leap For Chinese Military Aviation Industry & PLAAF