The Ministry of National Defense has ordered the Marine Corps to increase troops stationed in bases in the greater Taipei area to respond to potential strikes from China against the capital, a military source said.
The Marine Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit is to join the troops in defending the Tamsui River (淡水河) and Port of Taipei (台北港), the source said on condition of anonymity.
In 2017, the 66th Marine Brigade was stationed at the Political Warfare Academy in Taipei’s Beitou District (北投), the first combat unit to be stationed in Taipei other than the military police, the source said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Assessments of Taipei’s security made the military decide to send further reinforcements, leading to this month’s deployment of marines on the Tamsui River, the source said.
The reconnaissance unit is to work with the Guandu Area Command and the Coast Guard Administration to jointly carry out river defense missions, the source added.
The 66th Marine Brigade must also defend key infrastructure such as the Port of Taipei, the source said, adding that specific arrangements are in place for task forces within the unit.
Although the security of Taipei has been the responsibility of the military police, the security situation required strengthening the area’s defenses and might one day lead to a combined military police-marine corps defense arrangement for Taipei, they said.
The structure and organization of Taiwan’s naval forces would be adjusted next year, military sources have said previously.
These changes include integrating new anti-ship missiles, fast attack boats and reconnaissance units into the newly established Coastal Defense Operations Command, they said.
Furthermore, the Marine Corps’ structure would be adjusted away from heavy equipment in favor of focusing on rapid deployment, with plans to become clearer later this year, they added.
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