Taiwan Military News Thread

[Clouded Leopard]

At the end of the day, it comes down to which side can achieve it's own goals using a combination of military, political, and economic powers. For China, that would be unification, and Taiwan, total independence.

Sorry Leopard post removed due to being entirely political in nature. Please ensure a military aspect in your contributions. - Sampanviking

 

[SampanViking]

The 584th Armor Brigade has been transferred from Kinmen to Linkow, probably to defend Taipei. I think we talked about the strategical implications about this a few months ago, and this is probably just the policy being carried out.



Overall it seems that a more defensive doctrine is indeed being adopted. Starting November 1st, the Kinmen Artillery Command will be reduced in size - overall roughly 5000-7000 troops will be stationed on the island. Officially it's to help create a more peaceful cross-strait environment.

Quite understandably, officials working at Kinmen aren't exactly optimistic about prospects in an invasion.

Well thats hardly surprising. The Islands are too all intents and purposes undefendable. they are too small and too close tot he mainland. Anything offensive would be quickly neutralised, which would just result in a large number of troops cut off and Isolated, completely helpless and useless.

The UK did not bother to defend the Channel Islands in WW2 for pretty much the same reasons.

 

[Finn McCool]

Kinmen and Matsu serve as great barriers to trip up any major Chinese action, though. Their artillery can barrage the mainland itself (and I believe that there are also MLRS with 30-mile range,) and they are strategically situated as the "gate sentries" to Taiwan. They can also fire from behind on any PLAN ship that goes past them.


IMO, Kinmen and Matsu carry great strategic value, and Taiwan is erring by placing less emphasis on them, not more.

I would agree with you but the offensive forces arrayed against Kinmen and Matsu are simply too strong. The Chinese can blanket them with artillery of all sorts and have tens of thousands of troops ready to overrun them.

I believe that Taiwan should withdraw almost all of troops from the islands and certainly not place anything valueable like SAM batteries there. However a cruise missle battery would be nice to place on the island, because in the event of a war there are several PLAN bases nearby that would be crucial to an invasion of Taiwan and cruise missles on Kinmen would be in an excellent position to hit them.

 

[Deleted member 675]

I believe that Taiwan should withdraw almost all of troops from the islands and certainly not place anything valueable like SAM batteries there.

Well you want to leave a force there to provide deterence. If China were to attack head-on, Taiwan would probably withdraw its forces if there were time. But you want to ensure China doesn't get tempted to try walk in over a dispute that's short of full-scale war.

It's not as if Taiwan's keeping an especially large force there at the moment.

 

[Finn McCool]

But you want to ensure China doesn't get tempted to try walk in over a dispute that's short of full-scale war.

Yes, thats why I said "Almost" all. You would want to have enough troops to prevent the Chinese from simply walking in in a sort of coup d'etat...The Taiwanese would want to have enough troops there to force the Chinese to mount an operation that would provoke American attention.

 

[Deleted member 675]

You suggested Taiwan needs to withdraw more men whether you meant to or not. Personally I think the new numbers (5,000 - 7,000) are just about right.

 

[Clouded Leopard]

So with the withdrawals, where is Taiwan's combat strength on Kinmen and Matsu now, something like 25,000 and 5,000?

 

[Deleted member 675]

So with the withdrawals, where is Taiwan's combat strength on Kinmen and Matsu now, something like 25,000 and 50,000?

The article only mentions Kinmen, reducing to 5,000 or 7,000. No idea about Matsu.

 

[Gollevainen]

People remember though we allow Discussion of Taiwanese military news, our rules for political discussion applies here as well. So cut out flamable ways of expressing your opinions about Taiwan's political situation.

Peace and Happiness

 

[The_Zergling]

The article only mentions Kinmen, reducing to 5,000 or 7,000. No idea about Matsu.

In 2005 there was a report in the Liberty Times which noted troop cutbacks in Kinmen and Matsu - all Brigades were to be disbanded - downgraded to Command, headed by a one-star. Again, not sure what has been put into action.

At the time this was what the situation looked like...

Kinmen: 3 infantry, 1 armor
Matsu: 3 infantry
Penghu: 2 infantry, 1 armor
Tungyin: 1 infantry

On Global Security the figure for Matsu is at 18000.

金馬前線 將再大裁軍

〔記者許紹軒╱台北報導〕因應新時代的作戰方式，國防部於精進案持續裁減前線外島駐軍，金門、馬祖與澎湖等防衛司令部，都將降編為指揮部，三處總兵力將降到一萬餘名，民國九十七年之後，金、馬、澎三地將取消旅級層級，由防區指揮官直接指揮各營級部隊。

金門駐軍剩五千多

目前駐軍人數最多的金門，將從現在的近萬人，大幅縮減到五千餘人。

據指出，在國民黨兩蔣威權統治台灣的反攻大陸思想中，金門、馬祖被視為反攻大陸的「跳板」，駐軍最盛時期金門就有十萬人，馬祖五萬人，澎湖也有近兩萬人，當時陸軍兵力一半左右的部隊都戍守金馬澎，不少人服兵役時都抽中「金馬獎」，到金馬前線保衛國家。其中金門為抗擊中國侵台的要點，防衛部司令官在七十七年六月之前為上將，重要性可見一斑。

歷經精實案後，金防部現在有金東旅、金西旅、南雄旅與烈嶼旅，以及配署的砲兵等單位。馬防部有二個步兵旅，以及東引守備區的一個步兵旅。澎防部現有一個步兵旅與裝甲旅，但因該處還有海空軍兵力，人數縮減幅度較金馬為小。

不過，在九六年導彈危機之後，軍方體認到解放軍已經擁有將火力投射到台灣本島的能力，外島駐軍太多，在戰時將形同人質，在湯曜明擔任參謀總長期間，就開始要求外島駐軍縮小規模，而這次國防部長李傑主導的精進案第二階段也體現這項趨勢。

金馬澎降為指揮部

按照規劃，到九十七年精進案第二階段結束時，金、馬、澎三個防衛司令部降編為指揮部，指揮官編階降為少將，烈嶼旅長改任當地指揮官，三地的旅級層級全部取消，所轄的營級單位部分進行合併，未來將由防區指揮官直接指揮各營級部隊。

防衛司令部降為指揮部還有另外一個理由，就是明年元旦陸海空軍總司令部將降為司令部，如果下轄單位不跟著改變，將會出現一大堆司令部而無法分出層級的高低，因此改變勢在必行。

但軍方也指稱，離九十七年還有三年時間，雖然初步已經有規劃，除降編為指揮部的規劃外，其他部分還不算最後定案，不排除執行期間還會有所變化。

Article mentions Kinmen 5000-troop slash.