China Just Doubled the Size of Its Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Divisions

Should Taiwan be sweating?

According to media reports China will double the number of its Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Divisions (AMID) from two to four. Initially, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fielded two AMIDs, one stationed in Guangzhou, the other in the Nanjing Military Region, with a total number of about 30,000 men. Now total manpower in the AMIDs will be around 52,000 – 60,000. These new amphibious forces are meant to complement the roughly 20,000 strong elite PLA Marine Corps in future conflicts over the East and South China seas as well as Taiwan, although the PLA Marine Corps and the AMIDs still lack a joint command system.

Taiwan deploys rocket system on island against amphibious landing

Taiwan has deployed a powerful multiple-launch rocket system on an offshore island to guard against any amphibious landing by the mainland, local media reported yesterday.

The weapon, called Ray Ting 2000 or “Thunder 2000”, went into service for the first time on Matsu island and could reach Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait, said the United Evening News citing sources.