Taiwan’s coast guard commissioned another two vessels last week as the fleet increasingly finds itself on the front line against Chinese incursions.
Taiwan Expands Coast Guard Fleet – First Line of Defense
Taiwan’s coast guard commissioned another two vessels last week as the fleet increasingly finds itself on the front line against Chinese incursions. The latest domestically designed and built 600-ton class Coast Guard Administration vessel, Yong Kang was formally launched by Vice President Hsiao Bi- khim in Kaohsiung on Sunday as part of Taiwan’s efforts to beef up its coastal patrol capabilities amid rising tensions with China.
Taiwan government has pledged to spend US$1.31 billion in building 141 ships of six different types for the CGA between 2018 and 2027. Taiwan’s Coast Guard expelled two Chinese military vessels that entered waters off Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported, citing Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA).
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has said the country’s military was ready to “forcefully” stop Taiwan’s independence, in a fiery speech at a Singapore security forum.
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China Ready To ‘Forcefully’ Stop Taiwan Independence: Defence Minister
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore on Sunday, Dong said the self-ruled democracy of Taiwan was the “core of core issues” for China, but claimed Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party was incrementally pursuing separatism and bent on erasing Chinese identity. Last month it staged two days of war games around the island after the May 20 inauguration of President William Lai Ching-te. Lai and the DPP say it is up to the people of Taiwan to decide their future. Beijing calls him a “separatist”.
China Taiwan Conflict
China continues to assert its sovereignty over Taiwan, viewing it as a part of its territory and insisting on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. China has significantly increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Taiwan, on the other hand, maintains its separate identity and democratic system, with a majority of its population supporting the status quo of de facto independence.
Taiwan came under Chinese control during the Qing dynasty but was given to Japan after China lost the first Sino-Japanese war in 1895.
China regained control of Taiwan in 1945 after Japan lost World War II, but the civil war between the nationalists and communists led to the nationalists fleeing to Taiwan in 1949.
One China Policy
Both the PRC and the ROC claim to represent the legitimate government of all of China. The PRC asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and insists that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it. This is encapsulated in the One-China Policy.
