Having been short of financial resources since its inception more than three years ago, the Coast Guard Administration has made a budget request of NT$70 billion to bring it in line with the coast guards in the US and Japan, sources said yesterday.
The NT$70 billion budget would be spent over the next 15 years, during which time the coast guard will buy fixed-wing aircraft and large ships able to carry helicopters for long-distance and endurance patrol missions. The ships and aircraft are key elements of the coast guard's planned strengthening project for the next 15 years.
A senior coast guard official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the administration does not aspire to catch up with the US' and Japan's coast guards, but just wants to reach their current levels within 15 years.
"Our annual budget does not allow for a comprehensive upgrade of capabilities, so we asked for an extra NT$70 billion. We do not want the money all at once, but over 15 years. The Executive Yuan is short on money, too," the official said.
"If the full NT$70 billion were allocated to the coast guard immediately, we could reach the current levels of the US and Japanese coast guards very soon. We would even have a chance of catching up with them," he said.
The official said what the coast guard needs most is fixed-wing aircraft and large ships equipped to carry helicopters, which require a substantial capital investment.
Over the past year the coast guard has been investigating what type of fixed-wing aircraft will be best suited to maritime patrol. It is still unclear whether a decision has been made on the aircraft, but the coast guard has its eyes on a ship with a displacement of more than 3,000 tonnes.
Over the past two years the coast guard has been leasing helicopters from two different civil companies to serve as its only airborne monitoring tools. During this time the coast guard has reaped great benefits from the helicopters, which have been used effectively to patrol the coastline as well as in search-and-rescue missions.
Coast guard deputy director Yu Chien-tzu (
Over the next 15 years the coast guard is expected to acquire its own helicopters, which are to operate offshore and execute missions totally different from those undertaken by other branches of the government.
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