Taiwan’s New Coast Guard Flagship to Counter China’s ‘Grey-Zone’ Threat

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen and others pose for photos in front of the newly launched coast guard flagship Chiayi in Kaohsiung, Taiwan April 29, 2021. Yimou Lee/Reuters

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan—Taiwan commissioned into service a new coast guard flagship on Thursday to help counter China’s “grey zone” war tactics against the island.

Taiwan’s civilian-run coast guard, which would operate as a branch of the navy during wartime, is often involved in confrontations with Chinese fishing and sand-dredging ships which Taiwan says operate illegally in its waters.