Ocean Affairs Council seeks funds for patrol vessels, surveillance systems

Taipei, Sept. 11 (CNA) The Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) said Thursday it is seeking NT$29.56 billion (US$973.55 million) under a special budget to fund the construction of 40 new patrol vessels and improvements to maritime surveillance.

The Cabinet unveiled a NT$550 billion budget proposal for the special budget earlier in the day, including the OAC's share, in response to the possible impact of United States tariffs and China's military activities around the country.

OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) told a Cabinet news conference, the proposed spending will fund the procurement of drones, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and the establishment of visible light and infrared systems to improve surveillance throughout the day.

Crucially, Kuan said, such efforts would effectively solve the problem of poor visibility in nighttime surveillance missions.

Of the total proposed amount, NT$8.7 billion will partially fund the 40 new vessels from 2025 to 2033, including 12 in the 2,000-ton class, 14 in the 300-ton class, and another 14 in the 100-ton class, she said.

"We will position the 12 2,000-ton vessels as our main fleet," Kuan noted.

If approved by the legislature, the NT$8.7 billion will fund design, contracting, and keel laying of the planned vessels until 2027, she added.