Taiwan will add five naval defense brigades by 2023 to improve Taiwan’s ability to defend its coastline. Taiwan media reported Thursday (Dec. 24) that Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense spokesman Shih Shun-Wen said on the same day that the main purpose of the five new infantry brigades is to respond to enemy threats and strengthen the first line of beach and shore defensive capabilities.
However, Shi denied reports that the change amounted to an expansion of the armed forces. He said the new five brigades were integrated by adjusting the existing establishment and personnel, and did not expand the army. Previous media reports said this was the first expansion of Taiwan’s military since 1997.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed in the Legislative Yuan in October this year that in order to strengthen its reserve warfare capabilities, it said it would upgrade the current seven reserve brigades to 12. The five additional reserve brigades, two of which will be formed by the “South and North Standing Military Training Specialized Training Center”, in addition, the North, Central and South will each increase a reserve brigade, the establishment of the “five steps and one gun”.
The expansion of the five basic brigades is partly the result of the streamlining of the five machine battalions and one combat vehicle battalion after the establishment of the Union Battalion, and partly the savings from the integration of the reserves into the Army.
Over the past few months, China has repeatedly sent military aircraft and warships close to Taiwan, underscoring its determination to use force to achieve the threat of reunification. China views Taiwan as one of its identities, and since Tsai Ing-wen became Taiwan’s president, its military moves against Taiwan have increased dramatically and it has continuously threatened to complete the country’s reunification by force.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense spokesman Shih Shun-Wen said that after the current adjustment of the various readiness personnel, the number of infantry brigades has increased from 7 to 12, for a total of 12 Type I beach guard brigades, in order to strengthen the first line of beach guard combat power and improve Taiwan’s defense capability on the front line.
Shi Shunwen said, has completed all the preparation work, is expected to January 1 next year in accordance with the plan in the northern and southern regions to expand 1 infantry brigade; in addition, according to the time process, in the northern, central and southern regions of the new 3 infantry brigades, the whole program is expected to December 31, 2023, the full formation.
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