South China Morning Post reported that the People Liberation Army (PLA) has confirmed the deployment of advanced long-range rocket launchers on the LAC with an artillery brigade stationed above 17,000 feet in the western theatre command, which oversees the border with India.

This comes after the last week’s failed round of talk of Corps Commander between India and China on disengagement on the remaining friction points made no headway.

It is being said that the move aimed at reinforcing China’s border defence and act as a deterrent to India.

It is the first time PLA has confirmed such deployment and about a system that entered service in 2019 and comes with extreme precision strike capability but does not mention the name, the type or firing range of the weapon.

The artillery brigade which is situated 17,000 feet above sea level in Xinjiang has suddenly escalated its drills in the area during full-wing combat-ready training using this rocket system.

The PLA Daily report in Chinese indicated that the rocket launching company was developed from an anti-tank missile one.

“Only a long-range MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems) is powerful enough to act as a deterrent to India, as the Indian troops are also stepping up military deployment along the borders,” Song said in the article.

The PLA is continuing to strengthen its border forces in the region with winter gradually receding.

The PLA Daily report was published on a day when Indian ambassador Vikram Misri spoke about maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border during an interaction with Chinese think-tanks and universities in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.

Image Source:  AFP