President Tsai Ing-wen delivers an address during the commissioning ceremony for the ROC (Taiwan) Navy’s first dedicated minelayer squadrons Jan. 14 in the southern city of Kaohsiung. (Courtesy of Presidential Office)
 

President Tsai Ing-wen launched the country’s first squadrons of minelayers Jan. 14 in the southern city of Kaohsiung, reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding Taiwan’s territorial waters.

According to Tsai, minelaying operations at sea were previously carried out by navy officers using small landing ships, which was inefficient due to their limited speed and made the task more difficult under poor sea conditions.

Constructed by Taipei City-headquartered Lungteh Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., in partnership with the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, based in the northern city of Taoyuan, the new vessels are equipped with an automated minelaying system, which will facilitate deployment, she added.

Tsai made the remarks while attending the commissioning ceremony for the Navy’s first dedicated minelayer squadrons in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan.

Other high-profile attendees at the ceremony were Chiu Kuo-cheng, minister of defense; and Wellington Koo, secretary-general of the National Security Council.

State-backed NCSIST, the primary provider of indigenous weapons systems for Taiwan, is a key player in the government’s five-plus-two innovative industries plan. The initiative is fostering the development of the biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things sectors, as well as the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development. (DL-E)