Port facility upgrades will increase ARB-101st’s rapid deployment capability in Taiwan Strait
Taiwan News
Date: 2019/04/21
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Army ARB-101st “Frogmen” (MNA photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwanese military has reportedly begun accepting bids from contractors for the development of two forward operating bases and equipment upgrades for the Taiwan Army’s 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB-101st), better known as the Frogmen (海龍蛙兵) special forces.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has drafted plans to upgrade special port facilities on the outlying islands of Kinmen (金門), and Penghu (澎湖), to assist in the rapid deployment of Frogman units in the Taiwan Strait.
The MND is prepared to invest over NT$400 million (US$12.9 million) into the project, with NT$260 million going to the base in Kinmen, and NT$165 million for the facilities in Penghu.
With China’s increasingly threatening actions around Taiwan and in the South China Sea, the MND views rapid response capabilities around Taiwan’s outlying islands a top priority for national defense. [FULL STORY]
