Coast Guard plans fleet upgrade to strengthen patrols
ROC Central News Agency
2012/09/06 22:19:37
Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Thursday it will upgrade its fleet of vessels to strength its marine patrol capability.
Under a development project to strengthen sea patrol, the CGA said, it plans to acquire several large rescue vessels, deep-sea patrol boats, and patrol and rescue cutters.
The vessels will be used to improve Taiwan’s ability to patrol its sea territories and protect the rights of its fishermen, the CGA said.
The ships are expected to be put into service by 2017, it said. Meanwhile, the CGA said, it has increased its patrols in recent years to deal with the rising number of fishing rights incidents.
The remarks came one day after President Ma Ying-jeou said that Taiwan has a highly developed fishing industry and needs to build a non-Navy marine force to protect its sea territories and fishermen.
The force should also play a role in cracking down on smuggling, narcotics and ammunition trafficking at sea, the president said.
President Ma is scheduled to travel to an islet near the disputed Tiaoyutais in the East China Sea Friday to advocate his peace initiative to resolve sovereignty disputes over the island chain.
The Tiaoyutai Island are controlled by Japan, but are also claimed by Taiwan and China.
The waters near the Tiaoyutais traditionally have been fishing grounds for Taiwan's fishermen.
(By Liu Chien-pang and Lilian Wu)
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