Comments on the Sichuan Army Sent into Tibet at the End of the Qing Dynasty

In 1909, the Central Government of the Qing Dynasty sent an army enlisted from Sichuan Province into Tibet. By the end of 1912, this army had to withdraw completely out of Tibet because of the collapse of the Qing Dynasty. The army went to station in Tibet for many reasons. Subjectively, the Central Government of the Qing Dynasty needed to strengthen its power over Tibet and to hold back the British invaders. Objectively, the Qing Government intended to replace the local armies with the new army so as to drive out the British forces already in Tibet. However, in 1911, the Sichuan army in Tibet, under the control of Paoge, committed certain crimes and thus should be responsible for the turmoil of Tibet at that time.