Taiwan’s first-ever “immediate combat readiness drills” entered the second day yesterday, with the army simulating anti-landing combat to keep Chinese forces from reaching Taipei, the country’s capital, and main economic and political hub.
With the help of M3 amphibious rigs, the army’s 53rd Engineer Group deployed oil barrels and floating platforms as obstacles in waters off New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水) in a scenario that simulated Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ships and landing craft deploying air cushions on approach to the shore.
The troops created two types of obstacles, with the first type consisting of a floating platform, explosives and an oil barrel. Once detonated, the explosives could destroy or capsize PLA surface vessels.
Photo: CNA
These obstacles were placed in the Tamsui River (淡水河) estuary to target enemy vessels attempting to enter the river.
The second type of obstacle, deployed further upstream, was a combination of floating platforms, mines and “Czech hedgehogs,” which are intended to incapacitate approaching enemy ships.
The army’s Guandu Area Command has stored amphibious rigs and components for creating obstacles to ensure they can be deployed rapidly when needed, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
Photo: CNA
As the obstacles were being placed, an army AH-64E Apache helicopter flew over the Tamsui River.
The chopper flew back to Tamsui after completing a reconnaissance mission in the nearby Bali District (八里) and reporting to the ground command center, the source said.
Meanwhile, tanks and other armored vehicles rolled into their designated strategic positions in Bali upon receiving an order from the command center.
The vehicles mobilized for the drill included CM11 tanks, and CM33 and CM34 armored vehicles.
The five-day drills are the first of their kind and are being conducted based on the assessment that the PLA could unexpectedly pivot military exercises or “gray zone” activities — provocative or aggressive actions that fall just short of open conflict — near Taiwan into a real attack, a military source told local media on Wednesday last week.
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