TAIPEI - Taiwan's navy plans to update its ageing fleet of warships, a move intended to counter ramped up military pressure from China.
Taiwan intends to build a new anti-submarine frigate and a similar vessel with anti-aircraft capabilities, officials from the Defence Ministry told lawmakers in Taipei on Wednesday, adding the vessels were expected to be ready by 2025 and 2026.
China has doubled the number of ships that patrol every day "in waters near Taiwan" to four or five since August, when the People's Liberation Army carried out military drills in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei, the Defence Ministry said.
It has also expanded its patrols in areas southwest and north of Taiwan, it added.
The plans for more naval vessels underscore Taiwan's efforts to bolster its defences to guard against any attack by China.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan says it will defend its freedoms and democracy.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said in a speech on Monday that guarding against any Chinese attack would mean ramping up production and procurement of weapons, such as precision missiles and high-performance naval vessels.
The self-ruled island's navy currently has 26 large combat vessels, although many of them are old.
Taiwan has signalled it is taking the threat of war from Beijing more seriously since Pelosi's visit prompted the unprecedented Chinese military exercises, which included firing missiles over the island. Beijing has deployed warplanes and military vessels near Taiwan on an almost daily basis since then.
Last week, Taiwan pledged to treat any PLA incursion into its airspace as a "first strike", and said it would make an announcement on extending its four-month military conscription requirement by the end of the year.
Taiwan is expected to be a major issue at the twice-a-decade congress of China's ruling Communist Party starting on Sunday, where President Xi Jinping is set to secure a third term. Xi has previously pledged to use "all necessary means" to resolve the Taiwan matter. BLOOMBERG
