Extra frequent Chinese language patrols put ‘heavy burden’ on getting old Taiwan frigates By Reuters

By Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) – The stepped up depth of Chinese language naval patrols close to Taiwan since August is placing a “heavy burden” on the island’s getting old frigate fleet, which is struggling to take care of fight readiness, the Taiwanese defence ministry stated on Tuesday.

China, which claims democratically dominated Taiwan as its personal territory, carried out conflict video games close to the island in August responding to a Taipei go to by U.S. Home speaker Nancy Pelosi, and has maintained an elevated navy presence since then.

Whereas Taiwan is spending billions of {dollars} on new warships, submarines, missiles and fighter jets, a lot of the gear now in service is decades-old, presenting an enormous problem in coping with China’s navy actions.

In a report back to parliament looking for finances approval for a brand new class of frigate, Taiwan’s defence ministry stated that the variety of Chinese language ships frequently patrolling in waters near Taiwan had doubled to between 4 and 5 a day.

China had expanded the world wherein the ships function from “time to time” patrols within the Taiwan Strait to frequently sending them into the waters off southwest and northern Taiwan, it stated.

“The navy should ship corresponding forces to watch day-after-day, and ship extra forces to reply relying on the menace stage, which is inflicting a heavy burden on some older ships.”

Taiwan’s navy solely has 26 major fight ships, together with six Chi Yang-class frigates which have been in operation for 3 a long time, have outdated gear and are more and more arduous to take care of safely, the ministry stated.

“At current, they’re struggling to take care of correct gear and carry out numerous fight readiness duties.”

China’s navy is the most important on the planet, in accordance with the usDepartment of Protection, together with two plane carriers, and general is anticipated to develop to 460 ships by 2030.

The Chi Yang-class frigates have been constructed by the US within the Seventies and commissioned by Taiwan in 1992. The U.S. Navy retired the ships, which it calls the Knox-class, in 1994.

Taiwan’s defence ministry stated they’re constructing a brand new class of anti-submarine frigate and anti-aircraft frigate, however the earliest the primary vessels will in service is 2025.

The ministry didn’t say what number of such new ships Taiwan is planning to construct past 2025.

It stated the brand new frigates of about 2,000-tonnes could be much like their Chinese language counterparts in measurement and extra adaptable to react to the common presence of Chinese language ships close to Taiwan, which embrace China’s Kind 056 corvettes and Kind 053H3 frigates.