TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In response to increasing incursions and gray zone tactics from Chinese forces, Taiwan’s Coast Guard is bolstering its radar and patrol capabilities.

To deal with mounting threats and harassment from Chinese state and non-state actors, the Ocean Affairs Council, which oversees the Coast Guard, has secured over NT$29.5 billion (US$935 million) for new radar systems and a fleet of 40 new patrol boats, reported Nikkei Asia. 

By 2027, Taiwan’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities will see significant upgrades, according to Deputy Director-General of the Coast Guard Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽).

The OAC budget is separate from the Cabinet’s special defense budget, which opposition lawmakers have blocked since December. In addition to new patrol boats, the funds will reportedly cover a fleet of unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles along with infrared imaging systems, mid-range coastal radar, and an AI-powered imagery detection platform.

In recent years, the number of Chinese military activities in the Taiwan Strait, especially near outlying islands like Kinmen, has increased significantly. In 2025, the Coast Guard conducted 805 patrol actions to expel Chinese coast guard intrusions, said OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲), per Nikkei Asia.

This sharp increase in aggressive gray zone actions has put Taiwan under serious pressure to enhance its “maritime domain awareness capability,” said Hsieh. The goal is to build a multilayered surveillance network to operate 24 hours a day to facilitate early warnings and rapid response by military or law enforcement.