Taiwan to double Military Police and shift them to combat duties in Taipei

According to a five-year force structure plan released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the Military Police Command will be expanded from 5,600 to 11,000 personnel and reoriented from traditional policing and presidential protection to a motorized infantry role tasked with defending the Taipei metropolitan region and vital infrastructure from decapitation attacks. The 1st Garrison Combat Team, responsible for southern Taipei and the Boai Special Zone, will coordinate with the 66th Marine Brigade stationed at Songshan Air Base and the Army Guandu Area Command.

In a potential conflict, volunteer and conscript police would guard key government buildings, major roads, bridges and energy facilities. Procurement priorities include urban-fight gear, the M-ACE mobile anti-drone system, new T112 assault rifles with Smartshooter optics, remote-controlled weapon stations equipped with anti-tank missiles, and armored vehicles, as well as a heavily armored presidential command car. While assuming these expanded combat duties, the Military Police will continue its counter-terrorism and presidential security missions.