TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Saturday (July 13) toured the Navy’s Hsu Chiang corvette during a visit to Keelung.

The stealth ship is the third out of six Tuo Chiang class vessels known as “carrier killers,” and was launched in February 2023. Saturday’s visit to the 131st Fleet marked the first time Lai had boarded a Navy ship since his May 20 inauguration, per CNA.

In a speech to the crew, the president emphasized that the corvette had been designed and made in Taiwan. He also singled out the ship’s strong missile defense capabilities.

The Hsu Chiang is equipped with eight Hsiung Feng II missiles, four Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, and 16 Sea Sword II anti-air missiles. The Navy has ordered five more similar corvettes, as their stealth elements made them harder to track by the enemy.

The military submitted 25 river names in Taiwan to a public vote, with the 10 most popular to be used for corvette names. The Hsu Chiang was named after the Hsu Chuan River in Keelung.