China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted a combat exercise involving anti-nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in Tibet.
Including commandos and armored assault groups, the 24-hour drill was reportedly held “on a snowy plateau” amid heightened border tensions with India.
Combat simulations included the launch of several high-powered rockets and installation of explosives on a target. Their commanding officer had them engage in all scenarios while protecting against possible nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks.
Third battalion commander Li Qunfeng led the group in neutralizing a theoretical attack while wearing gas masks, passing through a “poisoned zone,” and reporting the situation back to command. A chemical defense detachment was then ordered to decontaminate the area.
“The drill closely focused on the enemy’s situation, focusing on key and difficult subjects such as day and night maneuvering and multi-arms coordination, and tempered the firepower attack capability of the troops in complex environments,” the PLA said as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
Dual-Use Chemical, Biological Tech
In November, the US Department of Defense accused the Chinese government of conducting clandestine research involving dual-use chemical and biological technology.
This development concerns the American government, which claims that China’s biological activities violate the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
“Studies conducted at PRC [People’s Republic of China] military medical institutions discussed identifying, testing, and characterizing diverse families of potent toxins with dual-use applications,” the report indicated.
According to the defense department, the US cannot certify if the Chinese government has met its obligations under the CWC because of its ongoing research into pharmaceutical agents and toxins.