China’s Techno-Military Modernization in Tibet and its Impact on Climate
Amrita Jash
This issue brief examines China’s extensive techno-military modernization in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), with a focus on infrastructure development and its ecological implications. The Chinese government’s investment in TAR’s infrastructure development, a crucial component of the 14th Five-Year Plan, is focused on large-scale dual-use infrastructure, including road networks, highways, airports, and railroads. Despite being presented as developmental, these infrastructure projects significantly expand China’s military mobility and enhance its strategic depth in the region. However, this rapid securitization comes with serious ecological consequences, such as grassland degradation, waterway pollution, and community displacement. Consequently, Tibet’s fragile ecosystems are increasingly strained by anthropogenic pressures, particularly those linked to China’s intensified land use and infrastructure expansion. This issue brief argues that China’s aggressive infrastructure drive, under the guise of economic development, is a primary driver in accelerating the climate and ecological crisis on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP)—underscoring the entanglement of geopolitical strategy and environmental degradation on the ‘Roof of the World.
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