TAIPEI — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te announced on Oct. 1 that Yuan Sheng-hua, former vice chief of staff at navy headquarters, has transferred to the Coast Guard as deputy head.
The move aims to boost coordination between Taiwan's navy and Coast Guard as China intensifies its maritime presence around the island. Lai said both entities must share maritime intelligence and ensure stable command and communication operations under all circumstances. He spoke at a promotion ceremony at the presidential office.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory, a claim the Taipei government disputes. China's military conducts operations around the island almost daily.
Taiwan has strengthened its Coast Guard as part of military modernization, viewing its ships as a "second navy" capable of assisting during wartime. In September, one of Taiwan's new Anping-class catamarans demonstrated combat readiness by firing a surface-to-surface missile during a drill. The patrol ships are modeled on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class fast attack warships, highly maneuverable stealth vessels designed to engage larger warships near Taiwan's shores.
The Coast Guard participated alongside the navy in an anti-blockade drill in August, simulating the escort of a merchant ship during Taiwan's annual Han Kuang war games.
Taiwan's Coast Guard ships, which typically do not openly carry weapons, regularly shadow and warn away Chinese Coast Guard vessels. The Chinese Coast Guard began patrols off Taiwan's east coast in June and announced additional patrols this week.
China maintains that its Coast Guard patrols strengthen law enforcement in what it calls its "jurisdictional waters." Taiwan asserts that China holds no right to claim sovereignty or jurisdiction in Taiwanese waters.
