By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Sept 30: London-based activist group Free Tibet reported on Friday that the scheduled air raid drill took place in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa on Sept 19 conducted by the Chinese government. Lhasa City People’s Government made an official announcement on Sept 14 ahead of the air defence alarm test that the military exercise would contribute to “improv[ing] the general public’s conception of the national defence and civil air defence awareness.” The announcement asked people to prepare for a practice air raid alert between 8 pm of Sept 18 and 12 noon the following day.
The drill was held at the annual National Defence Education Day, which is observed on the third Saturday of each September, usually with publicity activities. The Chinese President among other top CCP leaders at the recent 7th Tibet Work Forum meeting last month stressed the importance of securing the Tibetan border as part of strengthening China’s stability. Tibetan groups have questioned the need for such a test in Lhasa unless the point had been to send a message to India.
Advocacy group claimed that the drill has caused fear among the Tibetans, “It added to concerns among Tibetans at the intense militarization of Tibet by the CCP government through the building of military camps, building strategic airports and the performance of numerous combat tests.” The drill ran from 12:00 noon to 12:15 on Sept 19 which was strategically followed up by India’s deployment of five French-made Rafale jet fighters that week.
China began five military exercises simultaneously along different parts of its coast last week. Two of the exercises are being held near the Paracel Islands in the disputed South China Sea, one in the East China Sea, and one in further north in the Bohai Sea, the Maritime Safety Administration said in notices on its website.
One Response
This is unacceptable to frighten the poor Tibetan people who reside on their own land is unforgivable.