Trending Now
Democrats capitalize on GOP Jeffrey Epstein fallout with new demands for...
Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV, AIDS prevention program...
White House investigating Biden use of autopen in sprawling probe of...
Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian American killed in...
Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV, AIDs prevention program...
Senate GOP blows through 2nd hurdle of the night, teeing up...
Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian-American killed in ‘terrorist...
Trump’s $9 billion clawback passes first Senate test, while more hurdles...
National security experts raise concerns after Microsoft program exposed as possible...
House GOP subpoenas Biden aide to testify about former president’s concerning...
Democrats capitalize on GOP Jeffrey Epstein fallout with new demands for...
Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV, AIDS prevention program...
White House investigating Biden use of autopen in sprawling probe of...
Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian American killed in...
Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV, AIDs prevention program...
Senate GOP blows through 2nd hurdle of the night, teeing up...
Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian-American killed in ‘terrorist...
Trump’s $9 billion clawback passes first Senate test, while more hurdles...
National security experts raise concerns after Microsoft program exposed as possible...
House GOP subpoenas Biden aide to testify about former president’s concerning...
Insider Dealing News
  • Stock
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Editor’s Pick
World News

Taiwan ramps up coast guard and military readiness in face of Beijing’s ‘gray zone’ warfare

by June 12, 2025
written by June 12, 2025

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Taiwan’s coast guard and affiliated military units put on a show of strength during an ‘Ocean Day’ drill last week amid growing threats from China.

Held in southern Taiwan’s largest city, Kaohsiung, the exercise was overseen by Taiwan President William Lai, and while framed as demonstrations of search and rescue and anti-terrorism abilities, there was no escaping the larger reason why Taiwan is strengthening frontline defenses and operational readiness. 

Alongside the navy, Taiwan’s coast guard is undergoing modernization. On display during the Ocean Day exercise was one of Taiwan’s new Anping-class corvettes, stealth-capable vessels with surface-to-land missile systems, and, naturally, advanced rescue capabilities.

This all comes as Taiwan’s top weapons developer recently announced they had developed various new sea drones – including so-called ‘kamikaze’ or suicide drones. An anonymous official claimed Taiwan’s military will test the sea drones in waters off Southern Taiwan this August. 

Defense Minister Wellington Koo confirmed late last month that the navy of independently-ruled Taiwan will soon add unmanned surface vehicles, while the army is set to inaugurate its first drone units this year. Reports say Taiwan produced around 10,000 drones last year, and this year plans to buy 3,000+ more made by local companies for military use. 

In remarks following the Ocean Day exercise, Lai urged Taiwan’s lawmakers to back his administration’s latest defense spending proposals and told the group of select guests that included the highest-ranking American official based in Southern Taiwan, Neil Gibson, that the matter was about more than just ships and hardware.

‘It’s about national resilience.’ 

Taiwanese government officials frequently denounce what they term as escalating ‘gray zone’ warfare from Beijing, actions such as harassing fishing vessels, illegal incursions, and, on at least one occasion, boarding a Taiwan-flagged civilian ferry. Taiwan sees these actions as Chinese attempts to create a ‘new normal’ of uncontested control of the roughly 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait that separates the two sides.

Taiwan’s coast guard is dwarfed by the growing Chinese coast guard, which is already the largest in the world in terms of the number and size of vessels. Last year, according to statistics provided to Fox News Digital by Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan’s coast guard drove away 1,196 vessels from Taiwanese waters – 1,135 of which were from China. 

Lai said there is an urgent need for upgraded infrared surveillance to enable round-the-clock maritime monitoring, as well as other tech that could combat Chinese tactics that include illegal sand dredging, cyber disruptions and even sabotage of undersea cables, actions deliberately chosen to stay below the threshold of ‘acts of war.’

Ross Darrell Feingold, a lawyer and political risk analyst based in Taipei, told Fox News Digital that Lai’s calls for bipartisanship arise from the president’s party not currently holding a majority in Taiwan’s Parliament, which will make the passage of his proposed $13.6 billion USD ‘special budget’ much more difficult.

‘This proposed spending would go to the coast guard, the military, and be used to assist domestic industries affected by higher U.S. tariffs,’ said Feingold, who noted that the Trump administration should have no issues with selling weapons to Taiwan.

Since he took office on May 20, 2024, Lai has increased defense spending within the limits of what he can do while not holding a majority in Parliament. 

Beijing’s communist government stubbornly claims Taiwan as its territory despite never having governed it for a single day, and in recent years, removed language calling for a ‘peaceful settlement’ in official statements. One widely quoted assertion claims Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, now less than two years away. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Copper remains supported for now even as China optimism fades
next post
Democrat congresswoman draws boos over ‘shameful’ sexism remark in committee hearing with Treasury Secretary

Related Posts

Democrats capitalize on GOP Jeffrey Epstein fallout with...

July 15, 2025

Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV,...

July 15, 2025

White House investigating Biden use of autopen in...

July 15, 2025

Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian...

July 15, 2025

Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV,...

July 15, 2025

Senate GOP blows through 2nd hurdle of the...

July 16, 2025

Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian-American...

July 16, 2025

Trump’s $9 billion clawback passes first Senate test,...

July 16, 2025

National security experts raise concerns after Microsoft program...

July 16, 2025

House GOP subpoenas Biden aide to testify about...

July 15, 2025

Democrats capitalize on GOP Jeffrey Epstein fallout with...

July 15, 2025

Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV,...

July 15, 2025

White House investigating Biden use of autopen in...

July 15, 2025

Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian...

July 15, 2025

Senate GOP agree to strip cuts to HIV,...

July 15, 2025

Senate GOP blows through 2nd hurdle of the...

July 16, 2025

Huckabee demands Israel ‘aggressively investigate’ murder of Palestinian-American...

July 16, 2025

Trump’s $9 billion clawback passes first Senate test,...

July 16, 2025

National security experts raise concerns after Microsoft program...

July 16, 2025

House GOP subpoenas Biden aide to testify about...

July 15, 2025







    Fill Out & Get More Relevant News





    Stay ahead of the market and unlock exclusive trading insights & timely news. We value your privacy - your information is secure, and you can unsubscribe anytime. Gain an edge with hand-picked trading opportunities, stay informed with market-moving updates, and learn from expert tips & strategies.
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Copyright © 2024 InsiderDealingNews.com All Rights Reserved.

    Insider Dealing News
    • Stock
    • Investing
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Editor’s Pick