China-Taiwan Conflict: To counter China’s increasing military pressure, the Taiwan Navy plans to update its old fleet of warships. Defense Ministry officials told lawmakers in Taipei on Wednesday that Taiwan intends to build a new anti-submarine frigate and a similar vessel with anti-aircraft capabilities. This will happen by 2025-26.
‘China increased the number of patrol ships’
The defense ministry said China has increased the number of patrol vessels “in the waters off Taiwan” to four or five every day since August. Along with this, China has also increased its patrol in the south-west and north areas of Taiwan.
What did Taiwan’s President Taiyi say?
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said in a speech on Monday that this would mean accelerating production and procurement of weapons such as precision missiles and high-performance naval ships. The island’s navy currently has 26 large warships, although many of them are older.
Beijing warplanes deployed near Taiwan
Taiwan has signaled it is taking the threat of war from Beijing more seriously, as Pelosi’s visit prompted unprecedented Chinese military exercises, which included firing missiles at the island. Beijing has since deployed warplanes and military ships near Taiwan on an almost daily basis.
Last week, Taiwan pledged to treat any PLA incursion into its airspace as a “first strike” and said it would announce an extension of its military mandated requirement by four months until the end of the year. Taiwan is expected to be a key issue at the two-decade congress of China’s ruling Communist Party starting Sunday, where President Xi Jinping is set to secure a third term. Xi had previously promised to use “all necessary means” to resolve the Taiwan issue.
read this also-