CHINESE COMMUNIST OCCUPATION OF TIBET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R009600330012-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2006
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: January 5, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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~; ~UKFI?ENTIA{.~
CLASSIFfCA71~?N ~L U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
., r-%jJr.JI VVGaA 1 rI
E INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY China /Tibet DATE DISTR.
5 JAN 52.
SUBJECT Chinese Communist Occupation of Tibet NO. OF PAGES
3
25X1
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT T
REPORT NO.
O
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
U. S. C., SI AND $2, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER 10AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO
HIBITED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION.
25X1 Chinese Communist Forces in Lhasa
25X1 1. prior to the arrival of General CHHANG Kuo-hua and his troops,1 there were reported
g
2)X1 Dzongj, 500 Chinese soldiers who arrived with Ngapho Shape, and scattered bands
numbering from a score or less to more than two hundred
which continued to arrive, preceded by mislea ng rumors regarding
e route and strength. Estimates of those arrived ranged from two to three
thousand and those e e ted were numbered at from three to five thousand.2
25X1 the additional troops expected at the end of October
1,951 had been ordered to Lhasa because the Chinese had abandoned the hope of
getting control of Tibet through a civil administration and had requested a larger
military force. It was rumored that they were hoping eventually to increase their
strength in Tibet to 60,0009
2. The first Chinese troops in Lhasa were stationed at Margang Sarpo (New Fort), which
25X1 was formerly occupied by the Ton dak Regiment of the Tibetan Arn . They were said
to be enlarging the fort. with the increase of Chinese
troops in Lhasa, a new garr son hea quarters was being built.
3. In general the Chinese troops in Lhasa were conducting themselves in a quiet and
civil manner. Two had been executed for misconduct: one for frequenting Tibetan
brothels, and the other for allowing himself to be deprived of his rifle during a
brawl with some lamas. They have been instructed to avoid clashes with the
population.
4?
Chinese Communist Officials in Lhasa
In October 1951 General CHANG Ching-eau and his party were occupying the house of
a Tibetan official, Timun, Four chief members of the Chinese delegation, which
arrived in Lhasa with Ngapho Shape, were staying in a house owned by Yuthok Dzasa
and were to pay rent through the Tibetan Government. They,/had given a written
promise to vacate the house as soon as ar>?r member of the juthok family should
return to Lhasa, and had left Yuthokts personal rooms vacant.
CONFIDENTIAL
to be in Lhasa 500 Chinese or Sino-Tibetan soldiers who had arrived from Na
chhu
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The Chinese officials had twice paid respects to the Dalai Lama, and had called
on many' of the Tibetan officials., presenting them with silks, brocades and car-
pets purchased at exorbitant prices in.Lhasa. Calls have been made on local
representatives of absent. officials.
Chinese officials in Lhasa were buying as much barley as they could get in
October 1951, paying for it in advance in the Chinese coins the dayan, much
prized in Tibet.
The Chinese requested that they be supplied with a list of the,,monks in each
monastery near Lhasa so that they could make the customary gifts of tea to the
lamas. No lists were given them. Posters to the effect that alms would be given
to beggars who registered with the Chinese authorities were regarded as a trick to
assist in conscription. Few beggars registered, and on the day for the distri-
bution of alms most of them had left Lhasa.
Tibetan Reactions to the Chinese Occupation
8. The crack Tibetan regiment, the Tapehi,4 which went out to meet Ngapho Shape on
his return to Lhasa, removed with their bayonets and destroyed all the posters
which Ngaphots Chinese escort put up along the way. The posters were to inform
the Tibetan people of the terms of the agreement signed in Peiping.
9. The lamas of the three big monasteries near Lhasa, Drepung, Ganden and Sera, have
been spreading propaganda against the Chinese Communists in the form of rumors and
pamphlets.. The latter contain statements to the effect that America has promised
material aid to Tibet and that Japan has promised troops, some of which are already
on their way to Lhasa. Another propaganda statement indicated that a third world
war will result from the Chinese insistence on taking Tibet, a country which "the
rest of the world acknowledges to be highly important in its strategic position
and its as yet unexploited mineral resources; a country which the. rest of the world
agrees must .remaa n independent to insure the safety of the world; in the hands of
China Tibet bec es a weapon too powerful to be ignored."
10. Chinese Communist posters have been pulled down by lamas, and there have been
incidents where Chinese soldiers have been beaten by lamas. One incident involving
lamas resulted in the death of a woman member of the Chinese delegations alleged to
be a person of importance since she had been photographed. with MAO Tse-tung* She
had threatened some Tibetans with a drawn gun while walking in g Lhasa parks and
some lama police had beaten her to death with their large keys,
some groups of lamas have demanded arms and ammunition
from the Tibetan Government and are agitating for an all-out rebellion in cooper-
ation with the army and the people.
12. In general Tibetan officials have displayed a passive cooperation with the Chinese,
and it is thought probable that they are afraid of being betrayed by their
colleagues.. A few have consulted the Chinese authorities, but their tenants have
not approadhed the Chinese for any help in difficulties.
13, expressive of some of the
public rpKction to the Chinese Communists:, "They say that in their government
there are no masters and no servants; that everyone is the same; but as far as we
can sees their officers are dressed in the best serge, smoke States Express
digarettes, eat well, and live like the richest of our nobles., while the common
soldiers have only the usual army rations a are nearly killed with work."
lt. In October 1951 there had been no indication of trouble in Gyangtse, Ch'angtu,
Yatung or other towns.
15. Yapshi Sey is reported to be working under CHANG Ching-wu.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Date: _ 2 4__U11SZfl_ By
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1. Comments
2s Comment.
CHANGts arrival at Lhasa.
The expected troops were presumably those under CHANG.
3. Comment. The dayan is probably a silver dollar (yuan).
4- Comment. The Tapchi soldiers openly refuse to accept defeat at the
they-can be beaten. They have-an extremely high opinion. of themselves, and
their boasts help to raise the morale of the general public.
Commen. one of ten Chinese ac resses
who had accompanied the Chinese forces had been killed in Lhasa.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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Approved For Release 2006/09/25 : CIA-RDP82-00457R009600330012-1