President Tsai Ing-wen Officially Taiwan's New Warship Ship, Equipped With Air Defense Missiles To 76mm Cannons

President Tsai Ing-wen took a photo together after the inauguration of a new warship. (Source: Taiwan's Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - The Taiwanese Navy on Friday received a shipment of new domestically made amphibious warships, could be used to land troops and increase supply lines to vulnerable islands, part of President Tsai Ing-wen's self-defense self-sufficiency push.

Named Yu Shan, Taiwan's highest mountain, the 10,600 tonne ship with hull number 1401 is the latest development of President Tsai's ambitious program, to modernize the armed forces amid increasing pressure from China, which claims the island as its own.

Speaking at a delivery ceremony in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, President Tsai said the ship was proof of Taiwan's efforts to increase the production of its own warships, and achieved the national defense autonomy goal.

"When it comes to the Chinese military threat, only by strengthening our self-defense capabilities can there be true peace," he said. "Our policy and determination to carry out the national defense autonomy is our continuous policy and determination, so that the military has the best equipment to defend the country," said President Tsai.

Built by Taiwan's naval shipbuilder, China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC), the LPD-type ship launched in April 2021, and began sea trials on July 6, 2022, about a year after the launch ceremony, citing Naval News.

This ship has a total length of 153 meters, an overall width of 23 meters, a 6 meter hull draft and a full weight transfer of 10,600 tons. The new LPD can reach a maximum speed of 21.5 knots.

LPD Yu Shan (I401) armed with 32x TC-2N (4x8) medium-range air defense missiles, 76mm cannon and two CIWS Phalanx.

In addition, this LPD can carry AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, landing ships, Hummer vehicles, and 673 soldiers. Yu Shan is also capable of carrying 5 LCM for amphibious operations.

CSBC chairman Cheng Wen-lung said, apart from being an amphibious warship, with room for landing ships and helicopters, the ship would pick up "main transportation roles" for the South China Sea and Taiwan's offshore islands located close to the Chinese coast, an easy target for China in the event of a war.

It is known, CSBC will build four LPDs for the ROC Navy. Yu Shan will replace the only ROC Navy amphibious transport dock, ROCS Hsu Hai (ex-USS Pensacola), which the Taiwan Navy has operated for more than 50 years.

Yu Shan LPD delivered to Taiwan navy today with the presence of @iingwen here is also the first official photo of its 32-cansiter TC-2N SAMs. pic.twitter.com/4bVFLfLjvL

— Taepodong (@stoa1984) September 30, 2022