當年今日
關於我們

Taiwan unveils new warship as President Tsai Ing-wen flexes homegrown defense industry

蘋果日報 2020/12/15 19:21


Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen unveiled a new advanced warship on Tuesday, saying that it showcased the island’s booming defense industry which may eventually serve as a weapons supplier for Western democracies.
At the eastern port city of Suao, Tsai launched the first mass production ship of the Tuo Chiang-class stealth corvettes, which has been dubbed “aircraft carrier killers” by Taiwan’s navy due to its anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles.
“We have the determination and capability to complete the task of building our own ships, letting the world see our defense research and development energy,” Tsai said.
“In the future, we may also become a supply source of related equipment and components in Western democracies, driving the upgrading of the defense industry,” she added.
The corvette, along with a new minelayer commissioned at the same ceremony, will “increase the tactical flexibility” of Taiwan’s navy, Tsai said, with the ultimate goal of deterring China. The vessels will also slow down any potential invading forces.
Taiwan should embrace “asymmetric warfare” and invest in highly mobile and accurate weapon systems, Tsai said in her speech.
The Taiwanese leader also boasted about homegrown defense firms, saying that the automatic minelaying system developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the first of its kind and “among the most advanced in the world.”
Tsai said that Taiwan’s policy of building its warships domestically ensured that vessels of all sizes could be manufactured quickly, and also be well-built.
The Tuo Chiang-class corvette has a maximum speed of 30 knots, a maximum operational range of more than 1,800 miles, and a displacement of about 700 tons, according to Taiwan’s navy. The ship’s arsenal includes Hsiung Feng II and III anti-ship missiles, Sea Sword II missiles, as well as a 76-mm cannon and a Phalanx close-in weapons system.
Click here for Chinese version
---------------------------------
Apple Daily’s all-new English Edition is now available on the mobile app: bit.ly/2yMMfQE
To download the latest version,
Or search Appledaily in App Store or Google Play