KAOHSIUNG: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen vowed Thursday that the island would no longer "concede one step" in defending itself as she inaugurated two frigates purchased from the United States aimed toward boosting Taipei's naval features in opposition to China.
Rival China has upped military drills including a live fire workout within the Taiwan Strait in April, mentioning its willingness to confront the island's "independence forces".
Beijing nonetheless claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory looking ahead to reunification, by pressure if important, despite the fact that the 2 facets have been governed one by one since 1949 after a civil battle.
China has also been incensed by fresh warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the USA State Department's approval of a preliminary licence to sell submarine era to the island.
The two Perry-class guided missile frigates had been officially commissioned in a rite at Zuoying base in southern Kaohsiung town.
"We want to send a clear and firm message from Taiwanese people to the international community that we will not concede one step in defending... Taiwan and protecting our free and democratic way of life," Tsai stated after analyzing the ships.
China's "military actions in the region not only attempt to weaken Taiwan's sovereignty but will also damage regional peace and stability," Tsai warned Thursday.
She vowed to continue improving the military's features as part of the army's objective to maintain what it calls "solid defence and multi-layered deterrence" to guard the island.
Navy leader of workforce Vice Admiral Lee Chung-hsiao had stated prior to now the warships' anti-submarine features are more advanced than the island's present eight Cheng Kung-class frigates and can have "deterrent effects" in opposition to China's submarines.
The ships shall be deployed to patrol the Taiwan Strait, the slim waterway that separates the island and China, according to the military.
Beijing has stepped up diplomatic and army drive on Taiwan since Tsai took office two years ago, as her govt refuses to recognize that Taiwan is a part of "one China", not like the federal government of her Beijing-friendly predecessor.
In September, Washington irked Beijing when it announced plans to sell Taiwan $330 million in spare parts for several plane.
Washington remains Taipei's most tough unofficial best friend and its main fingers supplier despite switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.
Built within the 1980s, the 2 frigates had been firstly named USS Taylor and USS Gary and had been part of a $1.eight billion US fingers deal to Taiwan announced in 2015 under the administration of US president Barack Obama.
They have been renamed Ming Chuan and Feng Chia.
According to Taiwan's military, the warships have "high mobility, high sea resistance and low noise" and are fitted with the SQR-19 sonar machine currently utilized by US military.
Rival China has upped military drills including a live fire workout within the Taiwan Strait in April, mentioning its willingness to confront the island's "independence forces".
Beijing nonetheless claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory looking ahead to reunification, by pressure if important, despite the fact that the 2 facets have been governed one by one since 1949 after a civil battle.
China has also been incensed by fresh warming ties between Washington and Taipei, including the USA State Department's approval of a preliminary licence to sell submarine era to the island.
The two Perry-class guided missile frigates had been officially commissioned in a rite at Zuoying base in southern Kaohsiung town.
"We want to send a clear and firm message from Taiwanese people to the international community that we will not concede one step in defending... Taiwan and protecting our free and democratic way of life," Tsai stated after analyzing the ships.
China's "military actions in the region not only attempt to weaken Taiwan's sovereignty but will also damage regional peace and stability," Tsai warned Thursday.
She vowed to continue improving the military's features as part of the army's objective to maintain what it calls "solid defence and multi-layered deterrence" to guard the island.
Navy leader of workforce Vice Admiral Lee Chung-hsiao had stated prior to now the warships' anti-submarine features are more advanced than the island's present eight Cheng Kung-class frigates and can have "deterrent effects" in opposition to China's submarines.
The ships shall be deployed to patrol the Taiwan Strait, the slim waterway that separates the island and China, according to the military.
Beijing has stepped up diplomatic and army drive on Taiwan since Tsai took office two years ago, as her govt refuses to recognize that Taiwan is a part of "one China", not like the federal government of her Beijing-friendly predecessor.
In September, Washington irked Beijing when it announced plans to sell Taiwan $330 million in spare parts for several plane.
Washington remains Taipei's most tough unofficial best friend and its main fingers supplier despite switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.
Built within the 1980s, the 2 frigates had been firstly named USS Taylor and USS Gary and had been part of a $1.eight billion US fingers deal to Taiwan announced in 2015 under the administration of US president Barack Obama.
They have been renamed Ming Chuan and Feng Chia.
According to Taiwan's military, the warships have "high mobility, high sea resistance and low noise" and are fitted with the SQR-19 sonar machine currently utilized by US military.
Taiwan navy adds two new warships as China tensions grow
![Taiwan navy adds two new warships as China tensions grow]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
November 08, 2018
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