Taiwan navy gets two warships from US as China tensions grow

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen waving from the deck of the frigate Ming Chuan during a ceremony to commission two Perry-class guided missile frigates from the United States yesterday.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen waving from the deck of the frigate Ming Chuan during a ceremony to commission two Perry-class guided missile frigates from the United States yesterday. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

KAOHSIUNG • Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen vowed yesterday that the island would not "concede one step" in defending itself as she inaugurated two frigates bought from the United States aimed at boosting Taipei's naval capabilities against China.

China has upped military drills, including a live-firing exercise in the Taiwan Strait in April, declaring its willingness to confront the island's "independence forces".

The two sides have been ruled separately since 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Beijing has also been incensed by warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the US State Department's approval of a preliminary licence to sell submarine technology to Taiwan.

The two Perry-class guided missile frigates were officially commissioned in a ceremony at Zuoying base in southern Kaohsiung city.

"We want to send a clear and firm message from Taiwanese people to the international community that we will not concede one step in defending...Taiwan and protecting our free and democratic way of life," Ms Tsai said after inspecting the ships.

China's "military actions in the region not only attempt to weaken Taiwan's sovereignty but will also damage regional peace and stability", she warned.

Ms Tsai also vowed to continue enhancing the navy's capabilities as part of the military's goal to maintain what it calls "solid defence and multi-layered deterrence" to guard the island.

The navy's chief of staff, Vice-Admiral Lee Chung-hsiao, had said previously the warships' anti-submarine capabilities are more advanced than the island's existing eight Cheng Kung-class frigates and could have "deterrent effects" against China's submarines.

The US de facto embassy in Taipei, the American Institute in Taiwan, said the sale would "improve Taiwan's capability in current and future defensive efforts" as well as stability in the region.

The ships will be deployed to patrol the Taiwan Strait, the narrow waterway that separates the island and China, according to the navy.

Beijing has stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since Ms Tsai took office two years ago, as her government refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of "one China".

In September, Washington irked Beijing when it announced plans to sell Taiwan US$330 million (S$451 million) in aircraft spare parts.

Built in the 1980s, the two frigates were originally named USS Taylor and USS Gary and were part of a US$1.8 billion American arms deal with Taiwan announced in 2015. They have been renamed Ming Chuan and Feng Chia.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 09, 2018, with the headline Taiwan navy gets two warships from US as China tensions grow. Subscribe