The Ministry of National Defense plans to invest an estimated NT$500 billion (US$16.2 billion) after 2026 on next-generation guided missile frigates, submarines and principal warships, a high-ranking official said yesterday.
After that year, the military plans to develop the first and second production blocks of an indigenous submarine and a next-generation guided missile frigate, as well as a next-generation principal warship class’ lead vessel and first production block, said the official, who requested anonymity.
While few specifics are known about the military’s plan for the next-generation principal warships, they would likely be destroyers equipped with active electronically scanned array radar systems and designed to be capable of operating with the US Navy or other allied fleets.
Photo: Tu Chu-min, Taipei Times
Additionally, the Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Association and the ministry are late this month to host the Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defense Expo, which major foreign shipbuilders are expected to attend, the official said.
According to the Executive Yuan’s general budget plan for fiscal 2019 — which was last month submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review — the shipbuilding programs of the navy and the Coast Guard Administration are to receive about NT$180 billion in funding.
The navy is to receive NT$49.3 billion for the lead vessel of the indigenous submarine program and NT$31.6 billion for 60 miniaturized missile attack boats.
It would also receive NT$24.5 billion to begin development of the first vessel of the next-generation guided missile frigate program and NT$16.4 billion for three Block II Tu Jiang-class corvettes.
The remainder of the planned budget allocated to the navy includes funding for other programs, ranging from amphibious transport docks, submarines and minelayers to rescue ships and 26 special operations rigid inflatable boats.
The coast guard is to receive NT$42.6 billion to procure 4,000-tonne patrol boats and modified Tuo Chiang-class corvettes.
The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said it has deployed its largest vessel and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship operating off northern Batanes near Taiwan, adding that a Chinese coast guard vessel had also moved in. The Philippine operation “disrupted the vessel’s unauthorized marine scientific research and compelled it to leave its loitering position,” said Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson on South China Sea issues. The Philippine Coast Guard said the BRP Teresa Magbanua and an aircraft were deployed to counter the Chinese vessel, which it said had remained about 37 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat Island since Monday. The
RUNWAY: Analysts said the first aircraft landing is expected by the middle of next year, while Chinese state media said it would serve civilian needs Chinese construction of a runway on Antelope Reef (Lingyang Reef, 羚羊礁) in the Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands, 西沙群島), is well under way with analysts estimating it could be completed by the middle of next year, strengthening Beijing’s military control over the disputed South China Sea. Satellite images reviewed by Reuters show grading work, piles of gravel and concrete, and compaction cranes in operation to build a full-scale runway that military attaches and security analysts say could be one of China’s most important offshore bases in the region. The images, taken on Friday last week by commercial satellite imagery provider Vantor, also show
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The Presidential Office today condemned China's transnational repression after an alleged Chinese foreign agent was arrested in California yesterday on suspicion of surveilling President William Lai's (賴清德) son, Lai Ting-yu (賴廷與), the FBI said. The 34-year-old woman, named Wanying Heather Zhang (張婉瑩), was arrested on suspicion of acting as an unregistered foreign agent, US news agency CBS reported. She was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday attempting to fly to Shanghai, it said. This represents a “typical case” of China’s transnational repression, Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said today. "Our country expresses the strongest condemnation of such barbaric conduct that
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