Taiwan’s Military Police Command is preparing for a major expansion and a broader urban-defense role, according to reports published September 25, as Taipei continues reshaping its defense preparations around the protection of critical government facilities and infrastructure.
The Military Police Command reportedly plans to increase its force from about 5,600 personnel to 11,000 over the next five years. The planned expansion would give the force a larger role in protecting key areas of Taipei and responding to potential threats against the capital.
The reported changes come as Taiwan places greater emphasis on urban defense, leadership protection and resilience of critical infrastructure amid continuing concerns about potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan News, citing Liberty Times, reported that the Military Police is being positioned to respond to scenarios involving attacks aimed at Taiwan’s political leadership and central government facilities.
A New Focus on Taipei’s Urban Defense
The planned restructuring reflects a broader shift in Taiwan’s military preparations toward defending cities and maintaining the continuity of government during a major emergency.
The Military Police is expected to establish a stronger presence in southern Taipei, complementing other military units assigned to defend strategically important locations around the capital. The force is also expected to prepare personnel—including volunteers and conscripts—for missions involving the protection of important transportation routes, bridges, power facilities and other critical infrastructure.
The development follows Taiwan’s increasingly prominent focus on urban-defense exercises. During the 2026 Han Kuang military exercises, Military Police units practiced moving personnel and equipment through Taipei’s MRT system as part of a simulated defense of the capital. Focus Taiwan reported that the exercise was designed to improve urban-defense resilience and coordination between military and civilian authorities.
Countering the Growing Drone Threat
Another major element of the reported plan is strengthening Taiwan’s ability to respond to drone threats.
Taiwan News reported that the Military Police intends to acquire additional counter-drone capabilities as part of its modernization plans. The development comes as drones have become an increasingly important element of Taiwan’s military exercises and defense planning.
Recent reporting on Han Kuang 42 also highlighted the growing integration of drones into Taiwan’s defense exercises, including urban-defense and mobilization scenarios. Taiwan Current News reported that military planners have increasingly incorporated unmanned systems into training across multiple defensive missions.
Part of a Wider Defense Transformation
The proposed Military Police expansion is not happening in isolation.
Taiwan has increasingly emphasized defense in depth, urban resilience, reserve mobilization and protection of critical infrastructure in its recent exercises. An analysis published by Brookings following Han Kuang 42 noted that Taiwan’s exercises increasingly examine how military and civilian institutions could continue functioning under sustained pressure rather than focusing exclusively on the opening stages of a conflict.
Taiwan has also proposed a 2027 defense budget exceeding NT$1 trillion, according to Taiwan Current News, reflecting the government’s broader effort to expand defense capabilities and address emerging challenges, including unmanned systems and personnel requirements.
For Taipei, the latest Military Police plan therefore represents more than a manpower increase. It signals a continued effort to make the capital’s defense structure more integrated, resilient and capable of protecting essential government and infrastructure functions during a crisis.
The reported five-year expansion will now be closely watched as Taiwan develops its wider defense strategy and prepares for an increasingly complex security environment around the Taiwan Strait.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
