KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Taiwan’s coast guard and military units demonstrated their capabilities in an “Ocean Day” exercise last week, responding to increasing threats from China.
The exercise, held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s largest southern city, was framed as a display of search and rescue and counter-terrorism skills. However, it underscored Taiwan’s focus on strengthening its frontline defenses and readiness.
The coast guard, along with the navy, is undergoing modernization. The Ocean Day exercise featured one of Taiwan’s new Anping-class corvettes, stealthy vessels equipped with surface-to-land missile systems and advanced rescue capabilities.
Taiwan’s leading weapons developer recently announced the development of new sea drones, including “kamikaze” or suicide drones. An anonymous official indicated that the military plans to test these sea drones off the coast of Southern Taiwan in August.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that the navy will soon incorporate unmanned surface vehicles, and the army will establish its first drone units this year. Reports indicate that Taiwan produced approximately 10,000 drones last year and intends to purchase over 3,000 more from local companies for military applications this year.
Following the Ocean Day exercise, Lai urged lawmakers to support his administration’s proposed defense spending. He emphasized to guests, including Neil Gibson, the highest-ranking American official in Southern Taiwan, that the issue extended beyond ships and hardware.
“It’s about national resilience.”
Taiwanese officials frequently criticize escalating “gray zone” tactics, such as harassing fishing boats, illegal incursions, and the boarding of a Taiwan-flagged civilian ferry. Taiwan views these actions as attempts by China to establish a “new normal” of unchallenged control over the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s coast guard is smaller than the expanding Chinese coast guard, which is the world’s largest in terms of vessel numbers and size. Last year, according to data from Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, Taiwan’s coast guard expelled 1,196 vessels from Taiwanese waters, with 1,135 originating from China.
Lai stressed the urgent need for enhanced infrared surveillance for continuous maritime monitoring, as well as technology to counter Chinese tactics like illegal sand dredging, cyber disruptions, and sabotage of undersea cables – actions designed to remain below the threshold of “acts of war.”
Ross Darrell Feingold, a Taipei-based lawyer and political risk analyst, noted that Lai’s call for bipartisanship stems from his party’s lack of a parliamentary majority, which complicates the passage of his proposed $13.6 billion USD “special budget.”
“This proposed spending would go to the coast guard, the military, and be used to assist domestic industries affected by higher U.S. tariffs,” said Feingold, who noted that the should have no issues with selling weapons to Taiwan.
Since assuming office on May 20, 2024, Lai has increased defense spending within the limits of his authority, given the lack of a parliamentary majority.
Beijing asserts its claim over Taiwan, despite never having governed it, and has removed language advocating a “peaceful settlement” from official statements. It is claimed that Chinese President has instructed the military to be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027.
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