China equipping soldiers in Tibet with personal electronic equipment to boost combat efficiency

State-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) has revealed that a combined arms brigade of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force’s (PLAGF’s) Tibet Military District (MD) has equipped most of its dismounted troops with new tablet-like, handheld computers for use as part of a broader tactical information system.

The small computers – part of the new Chinese Individual Information Combat System – allow commanders to understand combat dynamics in real time, comprehensively grasp the battlefield situation, convey combat mission objectives, and, as a result, boost overall combat capabilities, especially in the cold, mountainous regions in Tibet, said CCTV in a report that was published on the MD’s Weibo account in late December 2020.

A still from CCTV footage released on 29 December showing a soldier under the PLAGF’s Tibet Military District operating a tablet-like handheld computer during a recently held 'informationised comprehensive combat drill' at an undisclosed location in Tibet. (CCTV)

The new equipment, the designation of which was not disclosed, was shown being used by individual dismounted soldiers during what CCTV referred to as an “informationised comprehensive combat drill” recently conducted in Tibet at an altitude of 4,500 m. The live-fire exercise also included the use of multiple rocket launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles. Dismounted troops can be seen employing the QBZ-95 assault rifle, as well as the DJZ-08 and PF-98 shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons.

CCTV said that by monitoring the new tactical information system carried by each soldier on the simulated battlefield, the command centre was able to track the soldiers’ movements, understand the whole dynamics on the battlefield, and give instructions to the soldiers in real time about their current mission.