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Taiwan inducts new amphibious ship to bolster defence industry

Agencies
01 Oct 2022 00:00:00 | Update: 01 Oct 2022 00:16:20
Taiwan inducts new amphibious ship to bolster defence industry

Taiwan’s navy took delivery on Friday of a new, domestically made amphibious warfare ship that can be used to land troops and bolster supply lines to vulnerable islands, part of President Tsai Ing-wen’s defence self-sufficiency push.

The 10,600-tonne Yu Shan, named after Taiwan’s tallest mountain, is the latest development in Tsai’s ambitious programme to modernise the armed forces amid increased pressure from China, which claims the island as its own, reports Reuters.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, Tsai said the ship was a testament to Taiwan’s efforts to boost the production of its own warships and achieve the goal of “national defence autonomy”.

“When it comes to China’s military threats, only by strengthening our self-defence capabilities can there be true peace,” she said.

“It is our constant policy and determination to implement national defence autonomy so that the military has the best equipment to defend the country.”

China carried out war games near Taiwan last month to show its anger at a visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Chinese military activity has continued though at a much-reduced tempo.

“When it comes to China’s military threats, only by strengthening our self-defence capabilities can there be true peace,” she said.

“It is our constant policy and determination to implement national defence autonomy so that the military has the best equipment to defend the country.”

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