Taiwan Launches Final Anping-Class Patrol Ship to Counter China

Taiwan launched the Donggang, the 12th and final Anping-class patrol vessel, during a naming ceremony in Kaohsiung on May 15, 2026. Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi performed the traditional bottle-smashing ceremony to bless the ship. The 600-tonne, high-speed catamaran completes the Anping-class fleet under Taiwan's indigenous shipbuilding program, which began in 2018 with a goal to construct 141 vessels over 10 years. Based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships, the Donggang is designed for maneuverability near Taiwan's shores and can reach 40 knots. It features the capacity to carry anti-ship missiles during wartime to support naval operations. The vessel will be deployed with a mobile coast guard unit in eastern Taiwan.

Kuan Bi-ling, Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, stated that the coast guard's mission has evolved beyond traditional law enforcement to safeguarding maritime sovereignty. She emphasized that these vessels are necessary to counter "gray-zone" harassment and incursions by Chinese coast guard ships, while also protecting critical undersea cables. The launch occurs amid intensifying regional tensions, following a recent meeting in Beijing where Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that mishandling disagreements over Taiwan could push bilateral relations to a "dangerous place."