Webinar Report: Climate Crisis in Tibet-IV: China’s Militarization of Tibet: Strategic Ambitions and Ecological Fallout
Shinji Yamaguchi, Srikanth Kondapalli, Zuzana Koskova and Jagannath Panda
The Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) of the ISDP organized a webinar titled “China’s Militarization of Tibet: Strategic Ambitions and Ecological Fallout,” which was the fourth in a webinar series on the Climate Crisis in Tibet. It was held on July 23, 2025. The webinar focused on how China is actively pursuing a revisionist agenda to secure dominance in the Himalayas. Extensive infrastructure projects in the region, including roads, dams, and military installations, serve the “dual purpose” of military enhancement and creating economic dependencies. Also known to the world as the “Third Pole”, Tibet seems to be facing the brunt of militarization at China’s hands with profound environmental consequences.
Beijing’s strategic emphasis on the Himalayan region demands a strong and resilient infrastructure capable of supporting sustained military operations in extremely challenging terrain. In recent years, troop mobilization and upgradation of military infrastructure have been carried out in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The Western Theatre Command has been quite active in enhancing its military facilities and operational strategies. Additionally, the Chinese government seems eager to push different types of infrastructural projects in Tibet, including the biggest hydro dam and even the fastest railway line in Tibet. All of these come at a grave cost, as Tibet is home to some of the rarest natural reserves. Environmental concerns are routinely sidelined, causing growing unrest among local communities.
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