The coast guard yesterday received a 600-tonne corvette, the newest addition to its fleet that is being increasingly tested by Beijing’s “gray zone” tactics. The vessel, the Chang Bin (長濱), was handed over to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) by its builder, Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group, during a ceremony presided over by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) in Kaohsiung. The Chang Bin is set to join two other 600-tonne Anping-class corvettes in the Eastern branch of the CGA.
"I encourage our Coast Guard personnel to safeguard safety in the gray zone and uphold our dignity in matters of sovereignty," Cho said during the event, referring to gray zone activities that are harmful to other countries but fall short of provoking a military response.
Cho's remarks came a day after five China Coast Guard vessels were spotted near waters south of Kinmen County, with four entering restricted waters around the outlying island in what could be classified as gray zone tactics.
Photo: CNA
Similarly, on Jan. 3, an undersea cable belonging to Chunghwa Telecom near Yehliu (野柳) in New Taipei City was damaged, likely by a ship owned by a Hong Kong entity and manned by a Chinese crew.
Though seemingly another gray zone act, there was no direct evidence proving the ship was connected to China.
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