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The chatter in China, and military deployments, indicate that the leadership believes they are now able to take Taiwan by force, before the United States can intervene. Such an attack would have to be without warning, because the United States would put forces in the way if there was any indication that an invasion was imminent. This development comes as no surprise to those who have been watching military and political developments in China and Taiwan during the past two decades. At the end of the Cold War, China had three million troops on active duty, but their weapons, warships...

Taiwan on Tuesday put into service its first missile boats featuring what the navy described as "stealth" technologies, aimed at boosting defence capabilities against rival China. The squadron of 10 guided-missile boats, seen by top brass as a major improvement on Seagull vessels which have been in service for the past 20 years, joined the navy at the Tsuoying naval base in the south of the island. "Its combat capabilities are much superior to the 50-tonne Seagull-class missile boats," the navy said in a statement released ahead of a ceremony in Tsuoying. "The new home-made weapons system is expected to...

The first installment of this series on the Republic of China Navy (ROCN), or Taiwan Navy, presented a skeptical assessment of the ROCN’s ability to fulfill the expansive requirements set forth in its “ROC Navy Vision” (Xin shiji haijun), which in essence directs the navy to network its operations, extend its reach and amplify its combat punch in order to take control of offshore waters [1]. Yet the Taiwan Navy submarine fleet barely rates the name, the surface fleet is ill-suited for sea control, and even according to a recent Taiwanese Defense Ministry assessment, the tactical air power on which...

Proposed Taiwan warship makes low-key debut TOKYO (Kyodo) -- An image of a proposed warship equipped with stealth technology and advanced weaponry published in Taiwan on Monday may have been released to gauge public opinion ahead of further development, a government source told Kyodo News on Tuesday. The computer-generated image, which appeared in the Taiwan edition of the Apple Daily newspaper, is available for public viewing at the Armed Forces Museum in Taipei, as well as in a booklet accompanying the museum's naval exhibition, which opened April 1. The newspaper said the vessel would pose a substantial threat to China's...

Taiwan has unveiled the first images of a high-tech missile corvette specifically designed to counter the threat of China acquiring an aircraft carrier, officials and media said on Monday. A computerised graphic of the 1,000-tonne 'carrier killer', which has so far been kept secret from the public, has gone on display at Taipei's military museum, run by the defence ministry. The vessel will be capable of cruising at speeds of up to 55 kilometres (34 miles) an hour and boast technologies helping it to evade radar detection, the Taipei-based Apple Daily reported, citing military officials. The navy hopes to arm...

The decision by Chinese President Hu Jintao to attend a nuclear security summit in Washington later this month may mean further delays for Taiwan's request to buy advanced F-16 fighters. It also explains why US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg went out of his way earlier this week to stress that the US did not support independence for Taiwan and why US President Barack Obama “reaffirmed” Washington's “one China” policy when he received new Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui on Monday. The US was smoothing the road for Hu's two-day visit and for a possible longer official trip to the...

The Republic of China Navy (ROCN), or Taiwan Navy, has an ambitious vision for its future strategy. According to the “ROC Navy Vision,” which is available on the Navy’s website, “Based on the guidance of ‘Command and control automation, Three-dimensional mobile strike capabilities and Missile-oriented weapon system,’ and through measures such as enhancing intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance, extending strike zone depth, expanding combat radius, accelerating response and contingency protection, the Navy aims to construct an effective deterring and three-dimensional mobile strike force that is elite, highly efficient, rapidly deployable, and capable of performing long range strikes” [1]. In other words,...

Taiwan warship gets supersonic missiles TAIPEI—Taiwan has installed locally developed anti-ship missiles on a warship in a significant boost of its naval defense against rival China, a report said Friday. The supersonic Hsiung-feng (Brave Wind) 3 missiles were seen on the Perry-class Cheng Kung frigate in the southern port of Tsoying on Thursday, said the United Daily News. The paper quoted commander-in-chief Admiral Wang Li-shen as saying that defense authorities will determine how to deploy the missiles and on which warships after testing is completed. It also cited an unnamed navy official as saying that the authorities hope to wrap...

President thanks US for submarines 12/18/2007 President Chen Shui-bian thanked the U.S. government Tuesday for approving the sale of eight diesel-electric submarines to Taiwan. Chen made the remarks at the Tsoying naval base in the southern port city of Kaohsiung. The base was marking 20 years of service by two improved Zwaardvis-class submarines. Chen said that Taiwan's trade relies much on shipping. Should China launch a naval blockade, Chen said Taiwan's lifeline would suffer greatly. Taiwan is trying to acquire eight new submarines from the United States after gaining legislative approval for a two billion Taiwan dollar (61.54 million US)...

CORRECTED: Taiwan holds unprecedented naval drill (Kyodo) _ The Taiwanese military, in unusually open yet bold naval exercises Wednesday, invited foreign and domestic media for the first time to observe from a Kidd-class destroyer drills aimed at countering China's navy in the Taiwan Strait. Its flight deck thronged with reporters, the destroyer Keelung -- accompanied by three frigates, a submarine, and other vessels and aircraft -- cruised 54 kilometers west of Taiwan toward China to stage a live-fire drill and antisubmarine maneuvers. "The media had never boarded our Kidd-class destroyers before today," said military spokesman Lt.-Col. Ben Wang. "This is...

Taiwan seeking to buy Aegis destroyers from US - report 08.06.07, 8:57 AM ET TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Taiwan wants to buy at least six US-built destroyers equipped with the advanced Aegis system to counter the perceived threat from mainland China, the United Daily News reported. An evaluation of the arms deal estimated to be worth up to 150 bln twd has been taking place, the paper quoted a 'reliable' military source as saying. 'The navy's goal is to buy six destroyers with an option for two others,' the source said, adding that deputy defense minister Henry Ko and Chen Yung-kang,...

I am putting together a comprehensive comparison and analysis site regarding the face off in the Taiwan Starits between the Taiwan Navy (ROCN) and the Red Chinese Navy (PLAN). I include in the analysis and the comparison, the likely surface combatants that the US would send to the assistance of Taiwan in the event of agression by the Red Chinese. Please take a look by clicking on the logo below and let me know what you think: Also, please feel free to refer others who have questions or interest regarding this potential flashpoint in toda6y's world. It is clear, in...

EXCLUSIVE-US clears two-stage path to Taiwan submarine deal By Jim Wolf WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - The Pentagon has cleared Taiwan to take a two-stage approach to buying up to eight diesel submarines in a move that could revive the long-stalled potential multibillion-dollar deal. In a letter to Taiwan's defense minister, obtained on Friday by Reuters, the Pentagon's point man for Asia, Richard Lawless, said separating the design and construction phases was "legally permissible and administratively feasible." Lawless, deputy undersecretary of defense for Asia and the Pacific, estimated the cost of the design phase at $360 million. He did not...

In May 2004, a flotilla of Chinese warships sailed slowly down the length of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor in an effective show of force. Officially, the People's Liberation Army described the visit as "an event to honor the PLA Navy's 55th anniversary." Clearly, the subtext was that the People's Republic of China (PRC) was striding confidently on the world stage. This display – the first since the colony's return to China in 1997 – came as pro-democracy advocates were grumbling about Beijing's clamp-down on any appearance of self-determination for the former British colony. Two guided-missile destroyers (Shenzhen and Harbin, Sovremmenyy-class...