(May 25, 1951)
The Agreement on the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet[1] was signed in Beijing on the 23rd of this month. To ensure the implementation of this Agreement and to meet the needs of consolidating national defense, our People's Liberation Army has decided to dispatch necessary forces to enter Tibet. For this purpose, the following decisions are hereby made:

I. Advance Deployment:
(1) The 18th Army of the Southwest Military Region, except for leaving two divisions (the 53rd Division and the 54th Division) in the Garze and Chamdo areas to undertake the tasks of constructing the Garze airfield and the Garze-Chamdo section of the highway, shall maintain its original task of advancing into Tibet. This army shall station one regiment in Lhasa, two regiments (minus one battalion) in the areas of Dêngqên, Sogwo[2], Lhari, and Taya[3], with the division headquarters stationed in Taya. Additionally, one battalion shall be formed into an independent detachment, setting out from the Shugdu[4] area and advancing westward along the Kongpo area of the Yarlung Zangbo River to carry out propaganda and reconnaissance tasks.
(2) The 126th Regiment of the 14th Army of the Southwest Military Region shall advance from the Dêqên area to station in the Zayü area.
(3) The Cavalry Detachment of the Northwest Military Region shall advance from Yushu to station in the Nangqên area and shall remain under the organizational structure of the Northwest Military Region.
(4) Regarding the troops prepared by the Northwest Military Region in Xinjiang for entering Tibet, apart from the vanguard units continuing to reconnoiter the route to Gartok[5], the main force shall continue to construct the highway to be ready to enter Tibet at any time.

II. Material Supply:
(1) Supply relations: Except for the 18th Army and the 14th Army's Tibet-entering troops, whose supply shall be the responsibility of the Southwest Military Region, the Cavalry Detachment shall still be supplied by the Northwest Military Region.
(2) Foodstuffs: Except for the 126th Regiment of the 14th Army and the Cavalry Detachment, whose food supply shall be the responsibility of Yunnan and the Northwest Military Region respectively, the foodstuffs required by the 18th Army for entering Tibet shall primarily rely on organizing transportation by yak, cattle, and motor vehicles, supplemented by local purchases. Any shortfall shall be resolved by the Southwest Air Command organizing airdrops and other methods.
(3) Road Construction:
A. The Garze—Chamdo—Dêngqên—Sogwo—Taya—Lhasa highway shall be urgently repaired by the 18th Army, striving for completion by the end of next year.
B. The Xining—Huangheyan—Yushu—Nangqên—Riwoqê—Dêngqên highway shall be constructed by the Northwest Military Region, which shall also continue to complete the Huangheyan—Yushu—Nangqên section.
C. The Dunhuang—Qaidam—Nagqu[6]—Lhasa route is our designated future oil supply route for Tibet. The Northwest Military Region shall dispatch personnel to conduct on-site surveys.
(4) Airfields: In addition to the 18th Army rapidly completing the construction task of the Garze airfield, it shall also construct a temporary landing field in the vicinity of Dêngqên and build an ordinary airfield in Lhasa.

III. This advance is a combat-ready advance under the Peace Agreement. All units must not, under any circumstances, slacken their fighting will and combat preparedness because the Peace Agreement has been concluded. Although the Agreement has been signed, it has yet to be implemented. At the same time, the imperialists will certainly use all kinds of conspiratorial means to sabotage our realization of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Therefore, vigilance must be heightened, and full preparations must be made at all times to deal with unexpected circumstances. Simultaneously, policy and discipline education within the troops must be strengthened to ensure the complete fulfillment of the tasks of liberating Tibet and consolidating national defense.

IV. Upon receiving this directive, all units shall immediately commence various preparatory work and report their readiness status to the Military Commission at any time. The advance action shall be implemented when the Military Commission issues the order to advance.

Chairman Mao Zedong
May 25

--- Notes

[1] Refers to the "Agreement Between the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" signed in Beijing on May 23, 1951. Its main points are: 1. The Tibetan people shall unite and drive out the imperialist aggressive forces from Tibet; the Tibetan people shall return to the great family of the motherland—the People's Republic of China. 2. The local government of Tibet shall actively assist the People's Liberation Army in entering Tibet and consolidating national defense. 3. Under the unified leadership of the Central People's Government, the Tibetan people shall have the right to exercise regional national autonomy. 4. The existing political system in Tibet shall not be altered by the Central Authorities. The established status and functions of the Dalai Lama shall not be altered by the Central Authorities. Officials at all levels shall continue to hold office as usual. 5. The established status and functions of the Panchen Erdeni shall be maintained. 6. The established status and functions of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni refer to their status and functions at the time when the 13th Dalai Lama and the 9th Panchen Erdeni were on amicable terms. 7. The policy of freedom of religious belief as stipulated in the Common Program shall be implemented; the religious beliefs, customs, and habits of the Tibetan people shall be respected, and lama monasteries shall be protected. The income of the monasteries shall not be altered by the Central Authorities. 8. The Tibetan armed forces shall be gradually reorganized into the People's Liberation Army and become part of the national defense forces of the People's Republic of China. 9. In accordance with the actual conditions of Tibet, the spoken and written language of the Tibetan nationality and school education shall be gradually developed. 10. In accordance with the actual conditions of Tibet, agriculture, animal husbandry, industry, and commerce shall be gradually developed to improve the people's livelihood. 11. The Central Authorities shall not impose any reforms in Tibet. When the Tibetan people raise demands for reform, this shall be resolved through consultation with the Tibetan leaders. 12. Former pro-imperialist and pro-Kuomintang officials, provided they resolutely sever relations with them and do not engage in sabotage or resistance, may continue to hold office, and their past deeds shall not be censured. 13. The People's Liberation Army entering Tibet shall abide by all the above policies, conduct fair buying and selling, and shall not take a single needle or thread from the people without compensation. 14. The Central People's Government shall handle all foreign affairs concerning the Tibet region in a unified manner, and shall coexist peacefully with neighboring countries and establish and develop fair commercial and trade relations on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect for territorial sovereignty. 15. To ensure the implementation of this Agreement, the Central People's Government shall establish a Military and Administrative Committee and a Military Area Command in Tibet. Apart from personnel sent by the Central People's Government, as many local Tibetan personnel as possible shall be absorbed to participate in the work. 16. The funds required by the Military and Administrative Committee, the Military Area Command, and the People's Liberation Army entering Tibet shall be provided by the Central People's Government. 17. This Agreement shall come into force immediately upon signature and affixation of seals.
[2] Sogwo, then a Zong (county) in Xikang, now Sog County in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
[3] Taya, an old county name, located in central Tibet, renamed Gongbo'gyamda County in 1960.
[4] Shugdu, an old county name, merged into Lhorong Zong in Tibet in 1960, which was re-established as Lhorong County.
[5] Gartok, i.e., present-day Garyarsa, a place name, located southeast of Gar County, Tibet.
[6] Nagqu, an old county name, i.e., present-day Nagqu in Tibet.