Image taken from Pixabay

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) will build 20 drones over the next two years to improve its search and rescue capabilities at sea and in coastal regions, according to a CGA official Friday.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said that the administration has been following President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) instructions, which she laid out at a ceremony to commission two new CGA vessels last September, to upgrade its technology and equipment and recruit more personnel.

A key component of the upgrade is the plan to develop 20 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by 2019 to boost the CGA's operations, something that the administration is prioritizing.

The CGA official went on to say that the drones will help its staff to respond better in search and rescue situations, particularly where geographical factors are an impediment.

The drones will help improve the speed, precision and scope of its operations, he said.

The CGA's plan to obtain 20 drones has already been approved by the Cabinet and sent to the Legislature for review.

(By Liu Chien-pang and Kuan-lin Liu)
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