The PLA chemical defence corps is responsible for the defence against nuclear, chemical and biological (NBC) attack. They are also specialised in smoke and flame employment. Chemical defence units are organic to units from group armies down to regiments. Some independent chemical defence units also exists at the general headquarters and military region levels.
Main responsibilities of the chemical defence corps include:
To conduct nuclear and chemical surveillance, and to provide weather intelligence;
To locate, evaluate, mark, and report areas of NBC contamination enabling the manoeuvre forces to avoid these areas;
To decontaminate areas and equipments that have been exposed to NBC agents;
To use flamethrowers to support infantry;
To disseminate smoke and non-lethal agents by various means
In responding to the growing threat of chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism in recent years, the PLA chemical defence corps is also responsible for providing law enforcement and other civilian sectors with expert advice and assistance in dealing with these types of crisis.
In some infantry divisions and brigades, the engineering and chemical defence battalions are now merged into a single engineering-chemical battalion.
