Taiwan's Marine Corps has switched to a new combat vest built to keep troops alive, a positive step for the island's readiness as it braces for a possible conflict with China.

• The vest took four years to design and fits the body more closely, cutting weight while still protecting troops.
• Two quick-release buckles at the belly and shoulder let medics strip the vest off a wounded soldier in under 2 seconds to treat the injury fast.
• A red pull-cord on the chest sheds the whole vest in one second underwater, so a Marine who gets in trouble during a water crossing can free himself.
• A heavy-duty grab handle on the back, rated to hold over 180 kilos, lets teammates drag a hurt soldier to cover under fire.

Outlook: Taiwan is copying US battlefield medicine, spreading combat trauma-care skills so every squad has someone trained, and more gear upgrades like this are likely as the military hardens for war.