TAIWAN: THREE ANTI-SUBMARINE FRIGATES LEASED FROM THE UNITED STATES JOIN TAIWAN'S NAVY

Record ID: 337830

  • Title: TAIWAN: THREE ANTI-SUBMARINE FRIGATES LEASED FROM THE UNITED STATES JOIN TAIWAN'S NAVY
  • Date: 4th August 1995
  • Summary: ILAN, TAIWAN (AUGUST 4, 1995) RTV-ACCESS ALL 1. GV KNOX CLASS ANTI SUBMARINE FRIGATES IN NAVAL BASE 0.05 2. GV SAILORS IN FRONT OF FRIGATE 0.08 3. GVS MISSILE CONTAINERS/RADAR ON FRIGATE 0.14 4. SV TAIWAN GOVERNOR JAMES SOONG AND ADMIRAL KU CHUNG-LIEN ARRIVING 0.18 5. SV GUARD OF HONOUR 0.23 6. GV/SV SOONG AND NAVAL OFFICERS INSPECT PARADE 0.29 7. SCU OFFICER WITH DRAWN SWORD IN FRONT OF VIPS 0.33 8. SCU STANDARD BEARER AND ESCORT 0.38 9. GV SIGNAL FLAGS ON FRIGATE PULL BACK TO COLOUR GUARD 0.45 10. GV SOONG AND OFFICIALS CLAPPING 0.49 11. GV ROSTRUM 0.51 12. SCU ADMIRAL KU CHUNG-LIEN, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF TAIWAN'S NAVY, SAYING "THIS ENABLES THE NAVY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) TO CONTINUE STRENGTHENING OUR COUNTRY'S NAVAL DEFENCE CAPABILITY AND ALSO HELPS TO ENHANCE STABILITY AND PEACE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION." (MANDARIN) 1.07 13. SCU/GVS SAILORS AND OFFICERS LISTENING 1.16 14. SCU TAIWAN GOVERNOR JAMES SOONG SAYING "FOLLOWING A SERIES OF MILITARY THREATS FROM COMMUNIST CHINA RECENTLY, I FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN I SEE THE COMING OF NEW FRIGATES AND THE THE NEWLY-STRENGTHENED CAPACITY OF OUR NAVAL POWER." (MANDARIN) 1.37 15. GV SAILORS LISTENING 1.40 16. GV SAILORS PARADING 1.49 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 19th August 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ILAN, TAIWAN
  • City:
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Reuters ID: LVA7GZ2MN3Q0JYZA5GMLWB2X27QD
  • Story Text: Three Knox-class anti-submarine frigates leased from the United States (U.S.) went into service in Taiwan's navy on Friday (August 4), a few days after President Lee Teng-hui vowed to build up defence power to "terrify and stop" any attack by China.

    "Here, we especially thank the government of the United States for its support on the lease project," Admiral Ku Chung-lien, Commander-in-Change of Taiwan's navy, said at the commissioning ceremony for the frigates in Taiwan's northeastern Suao port in Ilan county.

    "This enables the navy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to continue strengthening our country's defensive power on the sea and will definitely help stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region," Ku said.

    Taiwan and the United States signed the lease contract in June of 1994. Taiwan will pay an average of 75.2 million U.S. dollars for each frigate every year.

    China has regarded Taiwan as a rebel-held province since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and threatens to use force against the island if it declares independence.

    Both governments say they want reunification, but on different terms.

    The entry of the frigates -- Lan Yang, Hai Yang and Huai Yang -- brought the number of Knox-class frigates leased from the United States to six.

    Other weapons equipped on the frigates included five-inch, high-speed cannons, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface cannons, MK32 torpedo tubes, surface and air searching radars, launching gears for MK16 anti-submarine rockets and a helicopter garage.

    In July 1992, China protested angrily to Washington when the U.S. Congress approved the lease of the first three frigates, which went into service in October of 1993.

    Relations across the straits have plunged since President Lee's landmark visit to the United States in June.

    Beijing sees Lee's drive to break Taiwan out of isolation as a prelude to declaring the island independent.

    Tension further mounted after China fired test missiles into the sea north of Taiwan in late July.


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