This is an update of a two-year old post about the airports in Tibet.
I have often mentioned on this blog the dual-use of the airports on the plateau.
Yesterday, Xinhuaannounced the integration of civil-military airports to “strengthen aviation safety and combat support capabilities.”
A joint statement from the People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) said that the integration will include joint maintenance of airport support facilities, joint flight safety support and joint airport management.
Interestingly the Lhasa Gongkar Airport in Tibet and Sunan Shuofang International Airport in Wuxi in Jiangsu province,will be the first two pilot PLA/civil airports to implement the ‘integration’.
It will be done during the second half of 2015.
The PLAAF/CAAC circular further affirms that “All the civil-military airports will conduct strengthened integration next year.”
Is this decision linked with the 6th Tibet Work Forum?
Probably!
Apparently, the first meeting of the Forum took place yesterday.
Xinhua reported that top Chinese leaders have met “to discuss economic and social development in Tibet, and how to ensure the autonomous region achieve prolonged stability.”[Source]