Taiwan navy releases first video of self-designed ‘killer’ warship Tuo Jiang
Video of high-speed, 500-tonne attack vessel is meant to send a message to Beijing, expert says
Taiwan's first self-developed stealth missile corvette showcases its "killer" credentials in a newly released video by the island's navy.
A 110-second clip shows the 500-tonne corvette, Tuo Jiang, sailing backwards and making consecutive turns during a trial in the South China Sea that took place throughout November.
The corvette reached a speed of more than 38 knots during the trial, the results of which were "satisfactory", navy officials told the Central News Agency.
"The corvette will play the role of 'killer' to attack the enemy's vessel, as it can sail fast and get close to its target without being easily detected by radar," the agency said.
The video, released on Wednesday, compares the corvette to the American combat ship USS Independence to highlight its credentials.
Tuo Jiang was part of a NT$25-billion (HK$6.2 billion) programme to build between seven and 11 corvettes as a defence against the mainland's aircraft carriers, Taiwanese media said.
Tuo Jiang is 60.4 metres long, 14 metres wide. It has a range of 2,000 nautical miles and can hold 41 crew. It will be equipped with anti-ship missiles Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III, also made in Taiwan, and be based in Suao, Yilan county on the east of the island.
The vessel was constructed by the Taiwanese shipbuilding company Lung Teh.
Su Guan-chiun, a Taipei-based military expert, said the corvette would address the navy's lack of offensive weapons.
"Most vessels we have bought from the US are defensive, like anti-submarine vessels. Taiwan has very limited resources when it comes to weapon imports. By developing armaments by ourselves, the growth of our navy will not be limited by other countries," Su said.
The video is the latest in a series of high-profile shows of military might by the island, which is developing its own ground-to-air missiles and held a large-scale military drill in September.
This month the US Senate and congress passed a bill to sell four frigates to Taiwan, despite objections from Beijing.
"Taipei wants Beijing to know how far its military development has reached," Su said, adding that the corvette posed a "real threat to PLA surface vessels".
Yang Lixian, a cross-strait relations expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, accused Taiwan of "wasting taxpayers' money".
"[The mainland's] development of its navy is not targeting Taiwan, and in a way Taiwan could benefit from it [after reunion]. It would be much more effective for Ma to spend the money on the grassroots and raise the average wage. [If he had] his party would not have done so badly [in the local elections]."
