Taiwan's Coast Guard held drills on Sunday with the Military to better practice the joint operations against what the Government in Taipei claims is a growing threat from China. China claims the island as their own territory.

Taiwan, a democratically-governed island, has complained repeatedly about China's activities around the island such as sand dredging and cutting of undersea cables. These are all designed to exert pressure on Taiwan without direct confrontation.

Taiwan's Coast Guard is usually the first to respond.

Under the supervision of President Lai Ching Te, the drills were conducted in Kaohsiung's southern port. They simulated a "terrorist" seizing a ferry. The coastguard worked with an interior ministry helicopter rescue and an army medevac helicopter in order to board the boat, regain control and evacuate any casualties.

The coast guard reported that a navy anti-submarine chopper flew above the scene at the end of the drill, alongside the medevac helicopter and rescue helicopters. This was the first time the helicopters had flown together under such circumstances.

Lai, who was speaking to the participants of the drills that included Neil Gibson, the top U.S. diplomatic representative in Kaohsiung.

Lai stated that the government would continue to consolidate all departments, and increase the resilience of Taiwan's society in order to protect national security and Taiwan's freedom and democracy.

Taiwan's Coast Guard, which could be called into service if war broke out with China, also regularly shadows Chinese ships in Beijing's wargames around the island.

Like the navy, the coast guard is undergoing a modernization and expansion programme.

The navy's Tuo Chiang class warships are the basis for its new Anping corvettes. They began to be commissioned in 2020. These stealth ships are highly maneuverable and state-of-the art, designed to destroy larger warships close to Taiwanese shores.

Anping-class vessels, including the one that took part in this drill, are equipped with launchers of the Taiwanese Hsiung Feng sea-to land and anti-ship missiles. They also have additional equipment for rescue missions.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, saying that only the island’s people can determine its future. (Reporting and editing by William Mallard; Ben Blanchard)

(source: Reuters)