TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Coast Guard Administration denied reports that its Anping-class patrol vessels are being transferred to the Navy.
Ships are deployed and operating as originally planned, the CGA said, per Liberty Times. There are currently no plans to transfer these vessels to other agencies, it added.
A military source said the Navy is under significant strain to deploy sufficient combat ships to counter Chinese gray-zone activities around Taiwan. As a result, it has adjusted its vessel maintenance and repair protocols.
Apart from major overhauls, other vessels, even those undergoing maintenance or routine repairs, must remain on standby for rapid deployment to intercept and monitor Chinese ships, it said.
If the Anping vessels are ultimately transferred to the Navy for combat duties, CGA personnel will remain in the Coast Guard to staff newly constructed ships.
The source said the Anping ships are ill-suited for maritime law enforcement tasks. Their hulls are not resistant to collisions, making them less ideal for frequent interdiction and boarding operations, it said.
Additionally, their onboard rockets are considered excessive for law enforcement yet insufficient for military roles. It said this mismatch is one reason the CGA has acquired less-lethal weapons for its missions.