Several types of wheeled infantry fighting vehicles yesterday cruised through the streets of Taipei as the military police conducted a drill to protect key facilities in the capital, the Military News Agency reported.
The "combat reconnaissance patrol drill," conducted by the 239th Military Police Mechanized Infantry Battalion, included CM33 and CM34 infantry fighting vehicles, which rapidly maneuvered to tactical positions, the report said.
Through readiness inspections, command-and-control communications, logistical support and security measures, the exercise aimed to improve tactical deployment and on-site response capabilities, bolstering defense strength in the garrison area, the report said.
Photo courtesy of the Military News Agency
The 239th Battalion — the only armored unit permanently stationed in Taipei — carries out special security duties at venues visited by the president and vice president as directed in peacetime, and serves as a dedicated combat-ready force responsible for safeguarding the capital.
In addition to its battalion headquarters in the Dazhi area (大直), the unit has forces deployed around the Bo’ai Special Zone where the Presidential Office Building is located to enable rapid response and support in the event of contingencies.
Last month’s capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US has sparked discussions in Taiwan over whether the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has the capacity to carry out a similar "decapitation strike" on Taiwan’s president.
Asked about the issue, Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) last month told reporters that the defense ministry has established rules of engagement regarding contingencies, and Taiwan’s armed forces are prepared for "all kinds of scenarios."
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