Coast Guard takes delivery of another 600-ton corvette

Kaohsiung, Jan. 10 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard took delivery Friday of its latest 600-ton corvette, the newest addition to its fleet that is being increasingly tested by Beijing's gray zone tactics.

The vessel, named the Chang Bin (長濱艦), was handed over to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) by its builder Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group during a ceremony presided over by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

The Chang Bin is set to join two other 600-ton Anping-class corvettes in the Eastern Branch of the CGA.

"I encourage our Coast Guard personnel to safeguard safety in the gray zone and uphold our dignity in matters of sovereignty," Cho said during the event, referring to gray zone activities that are harmful to other countries but fall short of provoking a military response.

The premier also hosted the christening of another 600-ton corvette, the Su'ao (蘇澳艦), the 10th of its class, at the same ceremony.

After being christened, the Su'ao must still be outfitted and tested before being delivered.

Cho's remarks came a day after five China Coast Guard vessels were spotted near waters south of Kinmen County, with four entering restricted waters around the outlying island in what could be classified as gray zone tactics.

Similarly, on Jan. 3, an undersea cable belonging to Chunghwa Telecom near Yehliu in New Taipei was damaged, likely by a ship owned by a Hong Kong entity and manned by a Chinese crew.

Though seemingly another gray zone act, there was no direct evidence proving the ship was connected to China.

Highlighting the significance of Taiwan's indigenous corvette program, Cho said it demonstrated the nation's resolve to maintain democracy and freedom on the global stage.

The Anping-class corvettes are part of a 10-year, NT$42.6 billion (US$1.3 billion) program to build 141 vessels of six different types for the CGA between 2018 and 2027. The project includes the construction of a total of 12 600-ton corvettes.