A Knox-class frigate, also known as the Chi Yang-class (濟陽級) in Taiwan, which was purchased from the US and has been in use by the navy for nearly three decades, is to be decommissioned soon, a military source said on Saturday.
The Lan Yang (蘭陽艦), a Chi Yang-class frigate belonging to the Republic of China Navy that began service in Taiwan in 1995, is to be decommissioned around the middle of this month in a ceremony in Kaohsiung, the unnamed source said.
The decommissioned frigate would then be stripped of its weapon and radar systems before being used by the navy for target practice, the source said.
Photo: Taipei Times
The Lan Yang is the third Chi Yang-class frigate to be decommissioned after being used by the navy for about 30 years. It was formerly in service in the US as the USS Joseph Hewes.
In the 1990s, the US agreed to transfer eight Knox-class frigates to Taiwan. They were later reclassified as Chi Yang-class frigates before beginning their service in the navy between 1993 and 1999.
The navy previously retired two Chi Yang-class frigates, the Chi Yang and Hai Yang, in May 2015, because the navy had acquired two new frigates from the US, and it is too costly to keep the aging Knox-class frigates operational.
No plans have been announced for decommissioning the remaining five Chi Yang-class frigates in service.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had