Taiwan's new 'carrier killer' ships set to bolster island's asymmetric warfare plan

Taiwan will put two Tuo Jiang classes into service stealth missile corvettes This week, the United States strengthened its asymmetric warfare capabilities in response to growing threats from Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army.

Nicknamed “aircraft carrier killers”, the An Jiang and Wan Jiang corvettes are part of the island’s navy’s first batch of six relatively small but fast and agile ships, a military source said on Monday.

“An Jiang and Wan Jiang have completed their combat training and will be officially enlisted into the navy on Wednesday to safeguard our waters,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

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The domestically built warships represent the fifth and sixth additions to the navy, in addition to a prototype commissioned in 2015.

“The second batch of five additional corvettes is expected to be completed and delivered by the end of 2026,” the source said.

Measuring 60.4 meters long and 14 meters wide, these corvettes are designed like catamarans capable of piercing the waves. They can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots (83 km/h), displace 700 tonnes and have an operational range of 1,800 nautical miles, according to the navy.

Equipped with domestically designed Hsiung Feng II and III anti-ship missiles, as well as Hai Chien II anti-aircraft missiles, the ships can attack land or sea targets, including aircraft carriers. In addition, they are equipped with 76 mm guns, Phalanx close-in weapon systems and T74 machine guns.

Taiwan’s navy said the corvettes incorporate stealth technology to avoid easy detection and could operate effectively in shallow or coastal waters – areas where larger ships such as destroyers and frigates find it more difficult to operate.

Four corvettes have already been put into service: Ta Jiang, Fu Jiang, Hsu Jiang and Wu Jiang.

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory that can be reunified by force if necessary. Like most countries, the United States does not recognize Taiwan’s independence, but opposes any unilateral change to the status quo and remains committed to supplying arms to Taipei.

Since the island’s leader, William Lai Ching-te of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, was elected in January, the PLA has intensified its military intimidation against Taiwan.

Beijing views Lai as a “stubborn separatist” whose leadership could lead to conflict. After taking office on May 20, Lai said Taiwan and the mainland “are not subordinate to each other”.

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In response, the PLA conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, simulating a blockade of the island.

Late last month, tensions escalated in the Taiwan Strait due to a tense standoff between the Taiwanese and mainland Chinese coast guards. in the waters off Quemoya Taiwan-controlled defense outpost also known as Kinmen, after four patrol boats from the mainland entered the area.