KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan on Thursday demonstrated its sea defenses against a potential Chinese attack as tensions rise with Beijing, part of a multitiered strategy to deter an invasion from the mainland.
\nThe island\u2019s navy highlighted its Kuang Hua VI fast attack missile boats and Tuo Chiang-class corvettes in waters near Taiwan\u2019s largest port of Kaohsiung, a major hub for international trade considered key to resupplying Chinese forces should they establish a beachhead on the island.
\nThe Kuang Hua VI boats, with a crew of 19, carry indigenously developed Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles and displayed their ability to take to the sea in an emergency to intercept enemy ships about to cross the 44-kilometer limit of Taiwan\u2019s contiguous zone, within which governments are permitted to take defensive action.
\nChina routinely sends ships and planes to challenge Taiwan\u2019s willingness and ability to counter intruders, prompting Taiwan to scramble jets, activate missile systems and dispatch warships. Taiwan demanded on Wednesday that China end its ongoing military activity in nearby waters, which it said is undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and disrupting international shipping and trade.
\nMountainous Taiwan\u2019s strategy is to counter the much larger Chinese military with a relatively flexible defense that can prevent Chinese troops from crossing the strait. Landing sites are few on Taiwan\u2019s west coast facing China, forcing Beijing to focus on the east coast.
\nHsiao Shun-ming, captain of a Tuo Chiang-class corvette, said his ship\u2019s relatively small size still allows it to \u201cdeliver a formidable competitive power\u201d against larger Chinese ships. The Tuo Chiang has a catamaran design and boasts high speeds and considerable stealth ability.
\nTaiwan has in recent years reinvigorated its domestic defense industry, although it still relies heavily on US technology such as upgraded fighter jets, missiles, tanks and detection equipment. US law requires it to consider threats to the island as matters of \u201cgrave concern,\u201d and American and allied forces are expected to be a major factor in any conflict.
\nThursday\u2019s exercise \u201cdemonstrates the effectiveness of asymmetric warfare, and Taiwan\u2019s commitment to defense self-reliance,\u201d said Chen Ming-feng, rear admiral and commander of the navy\u2019s 192 Fleet specializing in mine detection. \u201cWe are always ready to respond quickly and can handle any kind of maritime situation.\u201d
\nChina\u2019s authoritarian one-party Communist government has refused almost all communication with Taiwan\u2019s pro-independence governments since 2016, and some in Washington and elsewhere say Beijing is growing closer to taking military action.
\nChina considers Taiwan a part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, while most Taiwanese favor their de facto independence and democratic status.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan on Thursday demonstrated its sea defenses against a potential Chinese attack as tensions rise with Beijing, part of a multitiered strategy to deter an invasion from the mainland. The island\u2019s navy highlighted its Kuang Hua VI fast attack missile boats and Tuo Chiang-class corvettes in waters near Taiwan\u2019s largest port of Kaohsiung, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":454392,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-454391","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n