www.China-Defense.com

Amphibious Warfare Capabilities of the People's Liberation Army:
An Assessment on Recent Modernizations[1]

It is generally believe that invasion of Taiwan would have two different phases and each phase seems to require a different tactical approach:

The first phase targets are clearly aiming at Jinmen, Matsu or other Taiwan-held islands that are close to Mainland China, where Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division (AMID) swimmers such as ALTs and AAPCs can swim thought shallow water without need of a naval amphibious assist such as LSTs. In addition, as the first phase of the campaign, it is reasonable to assume that the attacker will have some degree of surprise. This might also spell trouble for ROC military trying to determine the intent of any of those AMIDs conducting military exercises near those ROC-controlled islands, i.e. the exercises could turn into the real thing, after few weeks of stand-down after the exercises.

Today, if the PLA conducted an assault against Jinmen, the PLA landing force have air and naval cover as well as some degree of elements of surprise. Air cover will be available via both ground SAM/AAA elements and short-range air defenders, for which role the PLAN and PLAAF have sufficient older J-7 and J-8 fighters. The PLA would be able to supplement their attacks with long-range artillery and rocket fire. The PLA does not have to take over the entire defense structure of Jinmen and Matsu, just enough so defenders will be out of commission and cannot harass the main invasion fleet that sails toward Taiwan.

PLA will be likely to send marines to neutralize many smaller islands surrounding Jinman and Matsu, thus refusing the ROC military places for real time intelligence gathering or to hide their spotters along the main PLA invasion routes.

By looking at 1st Marine Brigade’s current orbat, it seems to be ideally organized to make "battalion combat teams" of one mechanized infantry battalion reinforced by one tank company, one or two artillery units, one reconnaissance company and maybe a security unit of light infantry (no vehicles), perhaps 3 independent reconnaissance companies (or about 9 platoons) for recon missions, plus perhaps 1 or 2 security companies totalling six platoons (platoons to man the forts in the South China Sea).