The 53rd Division (1st Formation) was a military unit of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China. It was originally formed in February 1949 under the designation 53rd Division of the 18th Corps. Its predecessor units participated in numerous campaigns during the Chinese Civil War. The division was part of the force deployed into Tibet and was heavily involved in the early stages of the annexation and subsequent military campaigns to secure the region.
The 53rd Division (1st Formation) likely participated in suppressing Tibetan uprisings and consolidating Chinese control over the area. As a result of military reorganizations within the PLA, the division was likely disbanded or reorganized at some point in the latter half of the 20th century. Further details about its operational history after the 1950s, including any specific battles or campaigns it participated in, are limited in publicly accessible sources. It's important to note that PLA unit designations and structures have undergone frequent changes, making tracking specific units across the decades challenging. Without further specific information, it is difficult to provide a comprehensive account of the division's later history.