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New military camps for Tibetan youth have been set up in the south eastern Tibetan town of Nyingtri, just across the border from India’s north eastern Arunachal Pradesh state, which China claims as its own territory, and where there are ongoing border skirmishes between China and India. The camps were established earlier this year and targeted at training young Tibetan students aged from eight to 16 years old. These camps provide a “crash course” in military discipline during the school holidays, including military drills and physical training.

Chinese state media has reported, “The purpose of these camps is to increase the spirit of patriotism and defending the nation, the physical and mental strength and the spirit of unity among the children”.

The first of these camps is known as Young Tibetan Snow Hawk Military Summer Camp, and has been established in Nyingtri town in Kongpo Gyamda County. A training camp for one hundred students, mainly from schools in Lhasa, took place in July. Another centre known, as the Tibet Rong He Military Training Centre, has been established with the sole aim of providing education that will nurture disciplined and obedient children with strong physical and mental strength, reports Chinese state media.

Tibet support groups, and human rights groups outside Tibet, have criticised these camps, saying they are a tool to brainwash young Tibetans and further intensify the systematic sinicisation of Tibetan cultural and identity. “The Chinese military is attempting to indoctrinate Tibetan children into an army that defends their own occupation” said John Jones, Campaigns and Advocacy Manager at Free Tibet, a Tibet support NGO based in UK.

China’s systematic destruction and dismantling of Tibetan culture, language and identity has always been presented by China as building a peaceful, happy and economically developed society.

Radio Free Asia reports that young Tibetans aged 18-21 are being offered an incentive to attend military training: those who enrol on a two-year military training course can receive a reimbursement of their school fees. Anyone who is already attending high school or college can continue and complete those studies after finishing the military training. Students who receive state aid for their college courses are required to enroll on the military training courses.