The Tibet Military District (MD), headquartered in Lhasa, is one of the five provincial military districts in the Chengdu Military Region (MR). In 1952, the PLA 18th Corps that was stationed in Tibet was reorganised into the Tibet MD. In 1955, the Tibet MD was upgraded to a military region, but it was later downgraded to a military district again. In 1985, the two remaining infantry divisions in the Tibet MD were reorganised into two mountain infantry brigades.
Currently the Tibet MD consists of three military sub-district (MSD): Shannan, Xigaze, and Nyingchi. Between these MSDs they manage a total of 6 border defence regiments and 5 independent border defence battalions. The Tibet MD’s mobile force element includes the 52nd and 53rd Mountain Infantry Brigade, possibly both stationed at Nyingchi. There is also the 54th Motorised Infantry Regiment, which is being gradually upgraded to a mechanised unit.
