Army conducts immediate readiness drill, 269th Mechanized Infantry Brigade's tanks and armored vehicles move to Bali and Taipei Port

TAIPEI, June 23 (CNA) -- The Taiwanese military began a five-day "immediate readiness drill" on June 22, with the coastal areas from Greater Taoyuan to New Taipei City designated as key defense zones. The Army's 269th Mechanized Infantry Brigade's combat team conducted readiness patrols again today, with a convoy of Clouded Leopard armored vehicles and tanks moving from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Port and the Bali area to familiarize themselves with the "iron triangle" strategic locations and strengthen the protection of critical facilities.

To enhance the military's high-readiness immediate response capabilities, the five-day, four-night "immediate readiness drill" is being conducted from June 22 to June 26. The main objective is to familiarize all levels of troops with combat practices and battlefield environments during the readiness deployment phase. Unlike the Han Kuang exercise, which simulates the entire process, the "immediate readiness drill" focuses on the initial readiness actions taken by the military when the PLA takes action but has not yet set sail.

Yesterday, the first day of the drill, military vehicles including the 269th Brigade's Clouded Leopard eight-wheeled armored vehicles conducted readiness patrols on Provincial Highway 31 in Qingpu, Taoyuan. To deepen the defense depth, the troops further expanded the exercise today. The convoy departed from Taoyuan Airport and moved along key routes to Taipei Port and the Bali area in New Taipei City to stand by in readiness.

CNA reporters went to the Zhongshan Road area in Bali, New Taipei City this morning. Around 9:10 a.m., a reconnaissance platoon from the 269th Brigade's combat team passed by with one light tactical wheeled vehicle, one Humvee, and two TOW 2B missile vehicles. Around 9:15 a.m., five CM32/33, CM34 Clouded Leopard eight-wheeled armored vehicles, and a mobile digital microwave vehicle passed by. Following that, around 9:37 a.m., three CM22 howitzer vehicles passed by. Finally, at 11:00 a.m., three CM11 tanks and one M88A1 armored recovery vehicle passed by. All convoys were preceded and followed by light tactical wheeled vehicles or military trucks to ensure safety.

Military sources analyzed that the coastal areas of Greater Taoyuan and New Taipei City are important landing threat zones in the north. Among them, Taipei Port, Bali, and the Tamsui River estuary have always been considered the "iron triangle" strategic strongholds for northern defense, and are key areas that enemy forces would attempt to seize to directly attack the political and economic center of Taipei. In the past, to prevent breakthroughs by Chinese hovercraft and other vessels, interdiction drills were conducted in the Tamsui River channel, and even simulated the destruction of the Guandu Bridge to delay enemy forces by collapsing the bridge structure. The 269th Brigade, as important mechanized mobile forces of the Army's Sixth Corps, aims to ensure rapid counterattack during wartime.

Military sources also mentioned that the 269th Brigade is conducting the drill through "real troops, real vehicles, real locations," moving from Taoyuan Airport to the Taipei Port and Bali area. The main purpose is to familiarize themselves with the operational environment, important terrain points, and fields of fire along the route, and to utilize the advantages of the road network for rapid deployment. This move not only prevents enemy forces from seizing important critical facilities and effectively threatening the northern transportation lifeline, but also increases the difficulty of enemy breakthroughs through the characteristics of urban and port defense, thereby gaining crucial time for subsequent troop assembly. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 0623

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