Republic of China Army

The Republic of China Army (中華民國陸軍) is the largest of the military branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan) with roughly 200,000 personel as of 2004. As the final line of defense against a possible invasion by the People's Republic of China, the primary focus is on counter-landing operations and urban warfare.

Organization

The ROCA's general structure is Army (Command) -> Division -> Brigade.

Army General Headquarters (陸軍總司令部)

The ROC Army GHQ is headed by a 3-star general and is responsible for overall command of all ROC Army assets. Army GHQ is subordinate to the General Staff (military), the Minister of Defense (civilian), and the ROC President.

Internal Units: Personnel, Combat Readiness & Training, Logistics, Planning, Communications, Electronics & Information, General Affairs, Comptroller, Inspector General, Political Warfare.
Aviation and Special Forces Command (航特司令部)
6th Army (第六軍團司令部): Northern Taiwan
8th Army (第八軍團司令部): Southern Taiwan
10th Army (第十軍團司令部): Central Taiwan
Hua-Tung Defense Command (花東防衛司令部): Eastern Taiwan
Kinmen Defense Command (金門防衛司令部)
Penghu Defense Command (澎湖防衛司令部)
Matsu Defense Command (馬祖防衛司令部)
Tungyin Defense Command (東引防衛司令部)
Logistics Command (後勤司令部)
Education, Training and Doctorine Command (教育訓練暨準則發展司令部)
Military Academy, Training & Command Schools, Chemical Warfare Corps, Engineering Corps, Arsenal Development.

ROCA's former Army Missile Command has become an independent command subordinate to the General Staff, commanding assets from the ROCA and ROCN.

History

The Army is directly continuous with the forces organized on Mainland China following the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911 which also participated in World War II and the Chinese Civil War before withdrawing with the ROC government to Taiwan in 1949. Until the 1970s, the stated mission of the Army was to retake the Mainland. Following the lifting of martial law in 1988 and the democratization of the 1990s, the mission of the ROC Army has been the defense of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

During the Cold War, the ROC Army participated in combat operations during the defense of ROC held islands against the People's Republic of China in the Battle of Kuningtou, and the First and Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.

With the downsizing of ROC forces in recent years, the Army has endured the largest number of cutbacks as ROC military doctrine has begun to emphasize the importance of offshore engagement with the Navy and Air Force. Recent short term goals in the Army include aquisition and development of joint C2 systems, advanced attack helicopters and armored vehicles, MRLS, and field air defense systems. The Army is also in the process of transitioning to an all volunteer force.