Latest news with #Anping-class
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing's 'gray zone' warfare
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan - Taiwan's coast guard and affiliated military units put on a show of strength during an "Ocean Day" drill last week amid growing threats from China. Held in southern Taiwan's largest city, Kaohsiung, the exercise was overseen by Taiwan President William Lai, and while framed as demonstrations of search and rescue and anti-terrorism abilities, there was no escaping the larger reason why Taiwan is strengthening frontline defenses and operational readiness. Alongside the navy, Taiwan's coast guard is undergoing modernization. On display during the Ocean Day exercise was one of Taiwan's new Anping-class corvettes, stealth-capable vessels with surface-to-land missile systems, and, naturally, advanced rescue capabilities. Taiwan's President Targets China Influence, Kicks Out Pro-beijing Agitators Amid Rising Tensions This all comes as Taiwan's top weapons developer recently announced they had developed various new sea drones – including so-called "kamikaze" or suicide drones. An anonymous official claimed Taiwan's military will test the sea drones in waters off Southern Taiwan this August. Defense Minister Wellington Koo confirmed late last month that the navy of independently-ruled Taiwan will soon add unmanned surface vehicles, while the army is set to inaugurate its first drone units this year. Reports say Taiwan produced around 10,000 drones last year, and this year plans to buy 3,000+ more made by local companies for military use. Read On The Fox News App In remarks following the Ocean Day exercise, Lai urged Taiwan's lawmakers to back his administration's latest defense spending proposals and told the group of select guests that included the highest-ranking American official based in Southern Taiwan, Neil Gibson, that the matter was about more than just ships and hardware. "It's about national resilience." Taiwanese government officials frequently denounce what they term as escalating "gray zone" warfare from Beijing, actions such as harassing fishing vessels, illegal incursions, and, on at least one occasion, boarding a Taiwan-flagged civilian ferry. Taiwan sees these actions as Chinese attempts to create a "new normal" of uncontested control of the roughly 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait that separates the two sides. Taiwan's coast guard is dwarfed by the growing Chinese coast guard, which is already the largest in the world in terms of the number and size of vessels. Last year, according to statistics provided to Fox News Digital by Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan's coast guard drove away 1,196 vessels from Taiwanese waters – 1,135 of which were from China. China Ramps Up Military 'Rehearsals' Around Taiwan, Outstrips Us In Air, Maritime, Space Lai said there is an urgent need for upgraded infrared surveillance to enable round-the-clock maritime monitoring, as well as other tech that could combat Chinese tactics that include illegal sand dredging, cyber disruptions and even sabotage of undersea cables, actions deliberately chosen to stay below the threshold of "acts of war." Ross Darrell Feingold, a lawyer and political risk analyst based in Taipei, told Fox News Digital that Lai's calls for bipartisanship arise from the president's party not currently holding a majority in Taiwan's Parliament, which will make the passage of his proposed $13.6 billion USD "special budget" much more difficult. "This proposed spending would go to the coast guard, the military, and be used to assist domestic industries affected by higher U.S. tariffs," said Feingold, who noted that the Trump administration should have no issues with selling weapons to he took office on May 20, 2024, Lai has increased defense spending within the limits of what he can do while not holding a majority in Parliament. Beijing's communist government stubbornly claims Taiwan as its territory despite never having governed it for a single day, and in recent years, removed language calling for a "peaceful settlement" in official statements. One widely quoted assertion claims Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, now less than two years article source: Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing's 'gray zone' warfare
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing's 'gray zone' warfare
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan - Taiwan's coast guard and affiliated military units put on a show of strength during an "Ocean Day" drill last week amid growing threats from China. Held in southern Taiwan's largest city, Kaohsiung, the exercise was overseen by Taiwan President William Lai, and while framed as demonstrations of search and rescue and anti-terrorism abilities, there was no escaping the larger reason why Taiwan is strengthening frontline defenses and operational readiness. Alongside the navy, Taiwan's coast guard is undergoing modernization. On display during the Ocean Day exercise was one of Taiwan's new Anping-class corvettes, stealth-capable vessels with surface-to-land missile systems, and, naturally, advanced rescue capabilities. This all comes as Taiwan's top weapons developer recently announced they had developed various new sea drones – including so-called "kamikaze" or suicide drones. An anonymous official claimed Taiwan's military will test the sea drones in waters off Southern Taiwan this August. Defense Minister Wellington Koo confirmed late last month that the navy of independently-ruled Taiwan will soon add unmanned surface vehicles, while the army is set to inaugurate its first drone units this year. Reports say Taiwan produced around 10,000 drones last year, and this year plans to buy 3,000+ more made by local companies for military use. In remarks following the Ocean Day exercise, Lai urged Taiwan's lawmakers to back his administration's latest defense spending proposals and told the group of select guests that included the highest-ranking American official based in Southern Taiwan, Neil Gibson, that the matter was about more than just ships and hardware. "It's about national resilience." Taiwanese government officials frequently denounce what they term as escalating "gray zone" warfare from Beijing, actions such as harassing fishing vessels, illegal incursions, and, on at least one occasion, boarding a Taiwan-flagged civilian ferry. Taiwan sees these actions as Chinese attempts to create a "new normal" of uncontested control of the roughly 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait that separates the two sides. Taiwan's coast guard is dwarfed by the growing Chinese coast guard, which is already the largest in the world in terms of the number and size of vessels. Last year, according to statistics provided to Fox News Digital by Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan's coast guard drove away 1,196 vessels from Taiwanese waters – 1,135 of which were from China. Lai said there is an urgent need for upgraded infrared surveillance to enable round-the-clock maritime monitoring, as well as other tech that could combat Chinese tactics that include illegal sand dredging, cyber disruptions and even sabotage of undersea cables, actions deliberately chosen to stay below the threshold of "acts of war." Ross Darrell Feingold, a lawyer and political risk analyst based in Taipei, told Fox News Digital that Lai's calls for bipartisanship arise from the president's party not currently holding a majority in Taiwan's Parliament, which will make the passage of his proposed $13.6 billion USD "special budget" much more difficult. "This proposed spending would go to the coast guard, the military, and be used to assist domestic industries affected by higher U.S. tariffs," said Feingold, who noted that the Trump administration should have no issues with selling weapons to he took office on May 20, 2024, Lai has increased defense spending within the limits of what he can do while not holding a majority in Parliament. Beijing's communist government stubbornly claims Taiwan as its territory despite never having governed it for a single day, and in recent years, removed language calling for a "peaceful settlement" in official statements. One widely quoted assertion claims Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, now less than two years away.
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First Post
08-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Taiwan military, coast guard conduct drills amid rising ‘grey zone' threat from China
President Lai Ching-te oversaw the drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, which mimicked 'international terrorists' seizing a ferry. The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties read more Taiwan's coast guard conducts its annual drill in southern Taiwan, simulating the seizure of a ferry by 'international terrorists', in collaboration with Taiwan's military to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Reuters Taiwan's coast guard and military conducted drills on Sunday to improve collaborative operations in the face of what the Taipei administration describes as a growing 'grey zone' threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Taiwan, which is democratically governed, has regularly protested about China's operations near the island, such as underwater cable cutting and sand dredging, which are intended to exert pressure without open conflict. Taiwan's coast guard is frequently the first to respond. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD President Lai Ching-te oversaw the drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, which mimicked 'international terrorists' seizing a ferry. The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. 'Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan,' Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top U.S. diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. 'The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom,' Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Yomiuri Shimbun
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Taiwan Coast Guard, Military Drill to Better Face China's ‘Grey Zone' Threat
Reuters Taiwan's coast guard conducts its annual drill in southern Taiwan, simulating the seizure of a ferry by 'international terrorists', in collaboration with Taiwan's military to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, June 8, 2025. KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan, June 8 (Reuters) – Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military on Sunday to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing 'grey zone' threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by President Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by 'international terrorists'. The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. 'Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan,' Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top U.S. diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. 'The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom,' Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Taiwan coast guard, military drill to better face China's ‘grey zone' threat
The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung simulated the seizing of a ferry by 'international terrorists'. PHOTO: REUTERS KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan - Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military on June 8 to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing 'grey zone' threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by President Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by 'international terrorists'. The coast guard worked with an Interior Ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. 'Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan,' Mr Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top US diplomat in Kaohsiung, Mr Neil Gibson. 'The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom,' Mr Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
