TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tank and artillery battalions of the 66th Marine Brigade will be converted into a drone unit to defend Taipei from a Chinese assault.
To prepare for a potential PLA decapitation strike and threats along the northern "red beaches," Taiwan is enhancing the military police’s ability to defend Taipei, per Liberty Times. The Ministry of National Defense has approved a restructuring plan, converting the 66th Marine Brigade into a strategic reserve force directly under the General Staff Headquarters, tasked with joint defense operations alongside the 202nd Military Police Command.
Due to insufficient military police personnel, the plan incorporates the 66th Marine Brigade into defense missions. The restructuring emulates the US Marine Corps transformation model, eliminating tank and artillery battalions while establishing a new drone unit.
Military officials said this is just one of many force transformation initiatives. Currently, only outdated tanks and artillery are being phased out, and maintenance facilities will remain operational.
After the Lunar New Year, the 66th Marine Brigade will reportedly begin implementing this force restructuring plan. The brigade's M60A3 tank battalion and M109A2 self-propelled artillery battalion will be gradually phased out, while a drone unit will be established to focus on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack drones to supplement long-range strike firepower.
The newspaper cited a source as saying the Taipei-based Military Police Command functions as a mechanized infantry brigade. Even if its manpower was doubled, two mechanized brigades would be insufficient to defend the metropolitan area, leading to the decision to include the 66th Brigade.
The 66th Brigade is primarily stationed in Taoyuan and Linkou, raising questions about its ability to rapidly support military police forces. A source told Liberty Times that while some personnel will be deployed within the capital, the brigade will still be responsible for securing both banks of the Tamsui River.
