Kaohsiung: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen launched a new fleet of domestically made Coast Guard patrol vessels on Friday, in a boost to the island's plans to strengthen its defence capabilities as tensions rise with China.
Tsai has made boosting Taiwan’s indigenous defence capacity a central pillar of her defence policy. She relaunched the military aviation industry with the production of new trainer jets and has pushed for the development of more sophisticated systems by utilizing the island’s high-tech industries.
Tsai has also pushed for an indigenously made submarine, launching the production of the machine in November after four years of research and design.
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The new Anping vessels are outfitted with high-pressure water cannons, and there is space for converting into a full-fledged missile corvette armed with Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng II or Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles.
In recent years, Tsai has gained approval from the U.S. for the purchase of billions of dollars in weapons, including upgraded F-16 fighter jets, armed drones, rocket systems and harpoon missiles capable of hitting both ships and land targets.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that is part of its territory and has been upping its threats to bring the island under control by force as economic and political enticements bear little fruit.
China has stepped up military exercises near Taiwan this year, flying fighter jets and reconnaissance planes on an almost daily basis toward the island of 24 million people, which lies 160 kilometres (100 miles) off China’s southeast coast across the Taiwan Strait.
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The Coast Guard said the boat is expected to help combat smuggling and illegal border-crossing activities. The boats will also play an important role in the Coast Guard's operations against illegal sand mining.
AP
