In a move seen as a response to escalating tensions with China, Taiwan’s Navy is set to bolster its fleet with the commissioning of two additional domestically-built Tou Jiang-class stealth missile corvettes.
According to reports from Central News Agency Taiwan on Monday, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the Hsu Jiang (PGG-621) and the Wu Jiang (PGG-623) are slated for official induction into the Navy during a ceremony expected in early May.
Launched in Feb and June 2023, respectively, the corvettes were delivered to the Navy this Feb and mark the third and fourth vessels of their kind to be mass-produced. This reinforcement underscores Taiwan’s efforts to fortify its maritime defenses amidst growing concerns over China’s military assertiveness in the region.
As reported by Central News Agency Taiwan, the Tuo Jiang-class corvette, designed and manufactured domestically by Taiwan, serves as a swift and stealthy multi-purpose vessel for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy. Apart from the prototype, Tuo Jiang (PGG-618), which entered service in 2015, the initial batch comprises six corvettes, with the upcoming deliveries of the fifth and sixth vessels, An Jiang and Wan Jiang, imminent.
The Navy’s plans include the construction of a total of 11 Tuo Jiang-class corvettes by the conclusion of 2026. Characterized by its wave-piercing catamaran design, the corvette measures 60.4 meters in length and 14 meters in width, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 30 knots with a range of 1,800 nautical miles.
Armed with a complement of weaponry including subsonic Hsiung Feng-II (HF-2) missiles, supersonic Hsiung Feng-III (HF-3) anti-ship missiles, a 76mm cannon, and Sea Sword II carrier-based medium-range air defense missiles, these vessels possess the capability to engage both air and sea targets simultaneously, according to Navy specifications
The escalation of tensions between Taiwan and China reached a critical point as Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported the detection of 10 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels in the vicinity of the island nation. Notably, eight of the aircraft breached the Taiwan Strait median line, prompting a swift response from Taiwan, which dispatched its own aircraft, naval assets, and air defense missile systems to monitor the situation. This incident is part of a broader pattern observed since September 2020, characterized by China’s increasing use of grey zone tactics, involving a gradual buildup of military presence around Taiwan’s periphery, as reported by Taiwan News.