Taiwan Navy to Add Missile Craft

Taiwan is building new fast attack craft armed with missiles.

Taiwan has signed a deal to produce up to 29 additional guided-missile patrol boats. These are Kuang Hua VI class boats, and are part of Taiwan's modernization program. These boats are to replace 47 older Hai Ou-class ('Seagull') boats. The pursuit of modern small combatants by Taiwan is no real surprise. When a strait of water separates two enemies, larger vessels like destroyers and even frigates are at a disadvantage, but small craft like corvettes and missile boats are almost at home in limited waters where the action will be close. This was the case in the English Channel during World War II, and the same will be true of any combat in the Formosa Straits.

[Taiwan] [China]