Navy requests US$1 billion to build nimble missile-armed vessels as tensions rise with China in the Taiwan Strait
Asia Times
Date: September 2, 2018
By Bertil Lintner
A Taiwanese flag is seen behind standard Type II missiles on the destroyer Kee Lung during a drill near Yilan naval base, Taiwan, on April 13, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Tyrone Siu
Taiwan’s navy has submitted a request to the government for NT$33.6 billion (US$1 billion) to build 50-ton fast-attack missile boats, the Taiwan-based Central New Agency (CAN) reported.
The missile-armed boats are part of an effort to strengthen Taiwan’s asymmetric warfare capabilities in the face of a growing military imbalance vis-a-vis China in the Taiwan Strait, CAN quoted a high-ranking defense official.
The request was submitted to Taiwan’s parliament on Friday, the report said.
Shifting from its past heavy reliance on conventional forces, Taiwan will now focus on “quality, efficiency and precision over quantity,” the same anonymous defense official said. [FULL STORY]
