The Republic of China Marine Corps conducted a combat exercise in the Kaohsiung Harbor area yesterday, with the main objective being to train troops to defend against a simulated surprise attack on the southern port city by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The 99th Marine Brigade’s Third Battalion, stationed at Kaohsiung’s Zuoying Naval Base, took the lead role in the military exercises.
A live-fire drill simulated a PLA surprise attack and seizure of the harbor, where a 30-man unit hid in a Chinese cargo ship entering Kaohsiung port to dock.
Photo: Liao Chen-hui, Taipei Times
The scenario had the simulated PLA military unit emerge from the ship to assault the dock and kill security staff, going on to seize the harbor’s administrative buildings and other facilities.
The 99th Marine Brigade was supported by other armored infantry and amphibious fighting units as it went into action, with quick operations and engagement to overpower the enemy force, completing their mission to retake the facilities.
Amphibious assault vehicles and a locally developed anti-tank rocket system were also deployed in the drill.
A Marine Corps sniper squad also participated in the drills, deploying for the counterattack to retake the occupied buildings.
The snipers demonstrated their capabilities by hitting targets from a distance of about 250m, earning praise from naval officials in attendance.
Before every Lunar New Year, the military organizes media tours of some military units to showcase their preparedness to protect the country from potential attacks during the holiday season.
The army and air force held similar drills on Tuesday to demonstrate their combat readiness.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS