TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will have 12 Tuo Chiang-class warships in service by the end of this year, strengthening the defense of its surrounding waters, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Friday.
Speaking at a commissioning ceremony for the Navy’s Tan Chiang warship, Lai thanked the research, shipbuilding, and supply chain teams for overcoming technical challenges. He said the vessels showed Taiwan’s growing ability to design and build its own warships.
CNA reported that the Tan Chiang is the first ship from the second production batch of the Tuo Chiang-class program. Earlier vessels included the original Tuo Chiang and the Ta Chiang, the first ship produced under the program’s first batch.
Lai said the Tan Chiang showed that Taiwan could independently research, design, assemble, repair, and upgrade naval systems. This ability allowed the military to develop equipment suited to conditions in the Taiwan Strait, he said.
The warship also showed the Navy’s determination to defend Taiwan’s waters amid Chinese military pressure and other actions that stop short of war, Lai said. He added that stronger military capabilities could discourage attacks and help maintain peace.
Peace could not be secured through a written agreement alone, Lai said. Taiwan also could not depend on the goodwill of a country that repeatedly threatened to attack it, he added.
Lai said Taiwan would continue buying weapons from overseas and cooperating with international partners. However, locally built warships, military aircraft, and drones were also essential to national defense, he said.
Lai called on the legislature to support a special defense budget proposed by the defense ministry. He said the ministry should manage the program and receive stable, long-term funding to improve military readiness.
The ceremony took place as Taiwan marked 30 years since its first direct presidential election. Lai said the military protected voters during that election and had continued to defend Taiwan’s democracy and security.
Lai encouraged Tan Chiang’s crew to maintain strong training and combat readiness. He said Taiwan’s armed forces remained the country’s strongest support during times of need.
The Navy said Tan Chiang has speed, firepower, and a design that makes it difficult to detect. It is also equipped with long-range anti-ship missiles.
The fully loaded vessel weighs about 685 tonnes and can travel faster than 30 knots, or about 56 kph. It carries Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles.
The ship is also equipped with Sea Sword II missiles for air defense. The system protects the vessel against aircraft and other airborne threats.
