Taiwan is preparing for Communist China to manifest its long-standing claim to the island, and the two new ships the Taiwanese navy has commissioned will go a long way toward securing the island.
Two Tuo Chiang class corvettes were delivered out of an order of six domestically produced warcraft with stealth capabilities.
Though small, the corvettes are fast and highly maneuverable with the capacity to carry multiple types of missiles and deck guns designed to counter Chinese naval vessels, which tend to be larger with rocketry-based weapon systems. Each craft is manned by 41 sailors.
In September, it was widely reported that the Chinese military flew a record number of military flights near Taiwan, a territory that it claims as its own, and has repeatedly stated that it would reacquire the island, by force if necessary.
103 military aircraft from the People's Liberation Army were spotted over the course of 24 hours. Despite none of the aircraft breaching Taiwan's airspace, the Chinese engage in provocative maneuvers, frequently testing Taiwan's air defense systems with trajectories that initially seem threatening before abruptly changing course.
President Tsai Ing-wen commissioned the ships on Tuesday at Suao, a port in the north of the island.
She emphasized it was part of her push to revitalize defense industries in her country while continuing to purchase weapons from the United States.
Though Taiwan and the United States do not have a mutual defense pact, the United States is legally obligated to make sure Taiwan can defend itself. Taiwan's military branches, air force, navy, and missile corps, respond to the incursion of Chinese ships and planes on a near daily basis.
