Taiwan Coast Guard to Conduct Live-Fire Exercises Amidst Rising Regional Tensions

Drills off Hualien County Signal Readiness in the Face of China's Growing Naval Presence

The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) of Taiwan is set to conduct two live-fire drills next month in waters off Hualien County. This announcement comes amidst increasing scrutiny of China's naval and coast guard activities near Taiwan.

The naval exercise notice arrives shortly after reports that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy is directly coordinating China Coast Guard operations, potentially to identify targets in Taiwan.

The CGA's eastern branch patrol vessels — the Taitung and Cheng Kung — are scheduled to execute gunnery exercises from 11 am to 2 pm on May 9 and May 27, according to the notice.

During the drills, the ships will employ 2.75-inch rockets, 20mm and 40mm guns, and small arms. Projectiles will reach a maximum altitude of 452m within the designated restricted zone.

The restricted zone encompasses the strategically important shipping lane connecting the Port of Hualien to the broader western Pacific Ocean.

The Taitung, a Miaoli-class offshore patrol vessel commissioned in 2016 and displacing 1,899 tonnes, is armed with a Bofors 40mm gun, a T-75 20mm cannon, and two T-75 light machine guns, with a top speed of 25 knots (46.3kph) and a cruising range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,112km).

The Anping-class offshore patrol vessel Cheng Kung, commissioned in 1990 and displacing 750 tonnes, is equipped with a 2.75-inch rocket system and a point-defense weapon. It can be retrofitted with anti-ship missile launchers and a Phalanx point-defense system. This catamaran-hulled vessel can reach a top speed of 44.5 knots and has a cruising range of 3,250 nautical miles.

In related developments, Taiwan-based drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger Group (雷虎科技股) has submitted its SeaShark 800 design for consideration in the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s tender for an uncrewed kamikaze drone boat.

Thunder Tiger is among six companies competing for the contract.

The SeaShark 800 uncrewed surface vehicle is a remote-controlled system boasting a top speed of 50 knots, a range of 524 nautical miles, and a low profile, surpassing the institute’s specifications.

The vessel is currently undergoing trials.

Designed with a focus on a low radar cross-section, the SeaShark 800 features a dual radio frequency and GPS navigation system engineered to resist electronic interference.

The boat can be remotely guided from distances up to 700km, dependent on electronic interference.

It also incorporates swarm control capabilities, allowing operation as a concentrated group or dispersed force for improved tactical flexibility.

The vessel measures 8.1m in length, 1.9m in height, displaces 2.7 tonnes, and has a shallow draft of less than 0.5m.

The SeaShark 800 is also slated to be equipped with an artificial intelligence-enhanced target identification system to improve operators' ability to distinguish between ship types, flotsam, and specialized targets.