Invasion of Tibet (1950–1951)
| Battle of Chamdo | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Tibet
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 People's Republic of China
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme (POW) Lhalu Tsewang Dorje
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Liu Bocheng Zhang Guohua Fan Ming
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| Strength | |||||||||
| Tibetan Army: 8,500 | People's Liberation Army: 40,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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180 killed or wounded 3,341 killed, wounded, surrendered, captured, or defected (Chinese estimate) |
114 killed or wounded | ||||||||
180 killed or wounded
~2,700 captured
The Battle of Chamdo (Chinese: 昌都战役) occurred from 6 through 19 October 1950. It was a military campaign by the People's Republic of China (PRC) against a de facto independent Tibet in Chamdo after months of failed negotiations. The campaign aimed to not to invade Tibet per se but to capture the Tibetan army in Chamdo, demoralize the Lhasa government, and to exert pressure to get Tibetan representatives to agree to negotiations in Beijing and sign terms recognizing China's sovereignty over Tibet. The campaign resulted in the capture of Chamdo and further negotiations between the PRC and Tibetan representatives that eventually resulted in the incorporation of Tibet into the People's Republic of China.
On 7 March 1950, a Tibetan government delegation arrived in Kalimpong to open a dialogue with the newly declared PRC and aimed to secure assurances that the PRC would respect Tibet's territorial integrity, among other things. The dialogue was delayed by a debate between the Tibetan, India, Britain and the PRC delegation over the location of the talks.
The Tibetan delegation eventually met with the PRC’s ambassador General Yuan Zhongxian in Delhi on September 16, 1950. Yuan communicated a three-point proposal that Tibet be regarded as part of China, that China be responsible for Tibet’s defense, and that China was responsible for Tibet’s trade and foreign relations. Acceptance would lead to peaceful "liberation", or otherwise war. The Tibetans undertook to maintain the relationship between China and Tibet as one of preceptor and patron, and their head delegate, Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa, on September 19, recommended cooperation (but with some stipulations about implementation).
Chinese troops need not be stationed in Tibet, it was argued, since it was under no threat, and if attacked by India or Nepal could appeal to China for military assistance. While Lhasa deliberated, Chinese troops advanced into eastern Tibet on 7 October 1950, crossing the de facto border across 5 places. The purpose was to capture the Tibetan army in Chamdo, demoralize the Lhasa government, and exert enough pressure to send negotiators to Beijing to sign terms for a peaceful incorporation of Tibet.
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