TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Coast Guard (海巡署) commissioned two powerful 1,000-ton patrol vessels Monday (Sept. 8) amid escalating maritime tensions with China. The Hualien CG1006 (花蓮艦) and Penghu CG1007 (澎湖艦) were unveiled during a ceremony in Keelung, Taiwan's major northern port. These heavily armed ships will bolster Taiwan's eastern coastal defenses as Chinese Coast Guard vessels continue regular incursions into Taiwan's territorial waters, representing a significant upgrade to the island's maritime security capabilities.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) delivered a pointed message at the handover ceremony, emphasizing Taiwan's need for robust security measures to protect the island's sovereignty. She stressed that strengthening Taiwan's defenses ensures stable economic development and protects citizens' livelihoods across the democratic island. Hsiao warned that peace cannot be taken for granted, declaring it requires collective preservation and constant vigilance from all stakeholders.
These vessels represent the fourth and fifth ships constructed by Kaohsiung-based CSBC Corporation (台船公司) under Taiwan's ambitious 1000-ton class naval program. The ships feature sophisticated NCSIST 2.75-inch rocket remote weapon stations and advanced fire control systems with remote operation capabilities. CSBC Corporation Chairman Jeng-Horng Chen (陳政宏) emphasized the ships' cutting-edge thermal imaging technology and night illumination flares, designed to maximize combat effectiveness during both deterrence missions and search-and-rescue operations.
Defense International Magazine (全球防衛雜誌) Interview Director Kuo Ming Chen (陳國銘) underscored the vessels' strategic significance in Taiwan's defense posture. Chen explained that China frequently deploys coast guard ships for gray zone operations, a form of military pressure below the threshold of open warfare. These large frigates, like the Hualien, provide Taiwan with the necessary maritime capabilities to confront and counter such provocative actions in contested waters.
These new vessels join Taiwan's Coast Guard fleet as Chinese maritime incursions intensify around the island's periphery. Chinese Coast Guard ships were detected near Kinmen, Taiwan's frontline islands, as recently as late August. Taiwan's Coast Guard documented 85 Chinese vessel transits through Kinmen waters between February 2024 and August this year, averaging 4.4 incidents monthly and highlighting the persistent nature of Beijing's maritime pressure campaign.